IMF Urges European Firewall Around Ireland as Prospects Fragile

Ireland’s European benefactors should take steps to create a firewall around the nation, as its prospects remain “fragile” amid the escalating euro-region debt crisis, the International Monetary Fund said.

The crisis may hamper Irish economic growth, increase the cost of re-entering bond markets and make it harder for the country’s banks to sell off assets, the Washington-based fund said today in its fourth review of Ireland’s bailout program.