Ireland to get bail-out loan

So Ireland is going to be giving shedloads more money, not as a gift but a "loan", whilst it is up to its neck in collossal debt. How are they going to pay it all back?

Maybe the European Commission and the Irish government could tell us all how much is exactly owed? The BBC is talking of a "very substantial loan" and "tens of billions" of euros. We hear of "pumping" money in. Where will it all come from?

Simple questions!

1. How much does Ireland owe?
2. How much will Ireland be given?
3. Where will the "loan" come from?

No need for committees. No need for summits. Just simple one line answers.

LibDems no longer so passionate over Euro!

In a surprising turn of events, or turn of policy, the Lib Dems have made a significant break with their commitment to the European single currency. They no longer see it as a priority. Well, I'm blowed!

In an interview with the The Independent on Sunday, Chris Huhne said, "The truth is, within the British debate, it's completely off the radar and there is simply no point in regarding it as a runner worth investing political time in." Mr Huhne also told the IoS that Nick Clegg would not become a household name until after the next election, saying the leader needed to "go through an election to become a real figure in the front rooms of the country". But I bet he'll be talked about in the front rooms of Tory and UKIP activists!

I wonder if this is a way of getting on board soft eurosceptics? Maybe. It goes to show that the next election will be a very odd affair indeed.

Euro to replace dollar?

Following on from the Today giggling episode, I noticed they had a piece on the Euro and the Dollar. The programme asked "Could the euro replace the dollar as the world's largest reserve currency within ten to fifteen years?"

I've long since believed that part of the Iraq War strategy was to stop Saddam Hussein buying and selling oil in euros. Seems that might be overtaken by other events. Interesting piece.

Story is here.