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Friday, October 26 08:02:02
A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party has told RTE News that new conditions would have to apply if the permanent bailout fund, the ESM, was used to alleviate Ireland's legacy bank debt. Norbert Barthle is the leader of the CDU group in the influential Bundestag budgetary affairs committee, said it would have to be considered as a second EU-IMF programme, which would come with a new set of conditions.
Under German law, his committee is required to approve any future support programmes undertaken by the ESM. He made the remarks in advance of the visit to Berlin today of Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore. Mr Gilmore is to meet his German counterpart, as well as the centre left opposition candidate who will challenge Chanceller Merkel in next year's elections.