A SINN FÉIN delegation will meet with officials from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund in Dublin today.
Party leader Gerry Adams has said that he intends to discuss possible alternative measures to the austerity programme being implemented by the coalition government.
He will be joined by deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty and the party’s economic advisors Joanne Spain and Eoin O’Broin for the talks.
Troika officials arrived in Ireland last Tuesday to complete the fifth review of the government’s adherence to the bailout agreement.
“We will tell the Troika that an urgent policy change is needed,” said Adams. “The government tells us that there is no alternative to the austerity programme, but we will explore with the Troika how much room for maneouvre there is.”
Adams will not, however, be meeting with Ajai Chopra – deputy director of the IMF’s European department and head of the task force in Ireland.
The IMF has confirmed to TheJournal.ie that the very public face of the Irish bailout will not be in Dublin for the review.
A spokesperson said the mission team will continue to be led by IMF assistant director Craig Beaumont.
Mr. Chopra remains engaged with the IMF’s work on Ireland and works closely with Mr. Beaumont, but he will not be joining this mission.”
It is understood that the focus on this week’s meetings between Troika officials and the government will be on the implementation of measures to meet targets set under the loan agreement, Ireland’s unemployment levels and negative growth in the last quarter.
Yesterday the Sunday Business Post reported that the sale of state assets will be an important element of the talks.
The Government has said that it wishes to keep some of the profits made from any sales to put towards employment creation. Previously, the Troika has said that any such windfalls must be allocated to debt reduction.
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