18 Nov 2010

IMF / IRELAND ECONOMY

A team of economists from the International Monetary Fund is travelling to Dublin for a short consultation after receiving a request from the Irish government. The European Commission and the European Central Bank will also join in the talks. “The focus of the consultations is to look at the measures that might be needed to support financial stability and protect against market risks in the light of the government’s four year budgetary plan,” said Caroline Atkinson, Director of External Relations at the IMF. IMF

Posted at: November 18, 2010 4:30 pm

Duration: 01:33

Available in: SD

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STORY: IMF / IRELAND ECONOMY
TRT: 1.33
SOURCE: IMF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 18 NOVEMBER 2010, WASHINGTON D.C.
 
SHOTLIST:

RECENT, WASHINGTON, DC

1. Wide shot, exterior IMF headquarters

18 NOVEMBER 2010, WASHINGTON, DC

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Caroline Atkinson, Director, External Relations, IMF:
"The focus of the consultations is to look at the measures that might be needed to support financial stability and protect against market risks in the light of the government's four year budgetary plan."
3. Cutaway, reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Caroline Atkinson, Director, External Relations, IMF:
"Our ultimate goal whenever we go to a country is to help to fix that country's problems so that there can be a strong and sustainable recovery so that there can be growth that can be maintained and financial stability. In particular, one of the things that we've learned and focused on quite a bit during this crisis is the importance of the ownership of the program by the government and the people. That is important for a program's success. One part of that is also to make sure the most vulnerable and the poorest are protected."
5. Cutaway, reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Caroline Atkinson, Director, External Relations, IMF:
"We believe that he Spanish government has laid out a fairly ambitious plan. That's what needs to be implemented. The structural reforms are also important to provide over the medium term a reduction in unemployment and more job growth."

RECENT, WASHINGTON, DC

7. Wide shot, exterior IMF

STORYLINE:

A team of economists from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is travelling to Dublin for a short consultation after receiving a request from the Irish government. The European Commission and the European Central Bank will also join in the talks with the Irish government.

"The focus of the consultations is to look at the measures that might be needed to support financial stability and protect against market risks in the light of the government's four year budgetary plan," said Caroline Atkinson, Director of External Relations at the IMF.

Atkinson said the acting director of the European Department, Ajai Chopra, will head up a team of 10-12 economists during the talks. The group includes experts on the banking sector.

"Our ultimate goal whenever we go to a country is to help to fix that country's problems so that there can be a strong and sustainable recovery so that there can be growth that can be maintained and financial stability. In particular, one of the things that we've learned and focused on quite a bit during this crisis is the importance of the ownership of the program by the government and the people. That is important for a program's success. One part of that is also to make sure the most vulnerable and the poorest are protected," Atkinson said.

Although there have been concerns that the troubles of Ireland may affect other countries in Europe, including Spain, Atkinson said that the Spanish government has taken some positive steps toward cutting the Spanish deficit.

"We believe that he Spanish government has laid out a fairly ambitious plan. That's what needs to be implemented. The structural reforms are also important to provide over the medium term a reduction in unemployment and more job growth."