Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The issue raised by Angela Merkel in recent days is interesting. She is now indicating that she and the European Union are prepared to support a reduction in interest rates for countries such as Ireland, Greece and other borrowers as long as it is accompanied by reforms in the system and restraint in our spending habits. This is something for which I have argued here in recent years. I do not see it as a loss of sovereignty for Ireland to buy into a safer, more dependable and trustworthy euro system.