The Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has told a Troika conference in Dublin that the people of Ireland "have “lost sight of the depth” of the economic crisis".
ӬBrendan Howlin this morning opened discussions at Dublin Castle - with IMF chief Christine Lagarde and Finance Minister Michael due to take part later this afternoon.
The Minister said Ireland is moving towards a sustainable recovery - and will have some budget room for spending to meet "demographic pressures" and some government priorities.
But Brendan Howlin accused the public of underestimating the scale of the financial catastrophe: