The European Central Bank has released the letters which effectively forced Ireland to take a bailout.

The letters show how the head of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, told Brian Lenihan it would cut a financial lifeline for Irish banks, unless the Irish Government signed up to a massive bailout within days. 

But the ECB denies that the letter "pushed" Ireland into a bailout, and says it was necessary because of the size of the domestic crisis facing Ireland and its banks.

It also released other letters written before and after the bailout - including one in which Brian Lenihan pleas with Trichet to use his influence to make comments which could ease the fears of investors.

The release of the letters - which are available on the ECB website - marks the culmination of a three-and-a-half year campaign by several journalists for the letters to be divulged.

Both Enda Kenny and Joan Burton say the blame for the bailout lies with Fianna Fáil - with the Taoiseach saying the seeds were sown in 1997, while Joan Burton says the bank guarantee is the real issue.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for the National Lunchtime News: