Ireland cleared for bailout exit
Three years after going cap in hand to international lenders, Ireland got the green light yesterday to step out on its own as the first Eurozone country to exit its bailout programme. The European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund signed off on the last part of the €85bn (£70.8bn) aid programme, paving the way for Ireland – which has met all major targets – to complete it by the end of the year.