TODAY’S DÁIL vote on the bailout was defended by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

He said it was to ensure there was full certainty regarding the House’s views, as expressed last week by a majority in its support for the first instalment of the four-year plan through the Budget’s passing.

“The purpose is to demonstrate that there is no uncertainty about the fact that this House, representative of the Irish people, is anxious to ensure that we bring the funding certainty to this State over the next three years that this programme will provide,” Mr Cowen added.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the IMF was the body to which the Taoiseach wanted to sell out the remaining economic sovereignty of the State.

“Make no mistake, personable and all as Mr Ajai Chopra can be, we do not want a new lord lieutenant here in Ireland.

“We have history books full of those experiences. We want to retain whatever last vestiges of our economic sovereignty and independence, and we can have that.”

Mr Ó Caoláin appealed to the Taoiseach to “grasp the opportunity in this 11th-hour moment and not proceed with this shameful deal, given that the IMF’s board has itself decided to postpone the final sign-off, consequent to the fact that we are going to debate this matter and vote on it here in the House tomorrow”.

Mr Cowen said the Sinn Féin request suggested that the party had some funding mechanism in mind.

“If they could let us know what that is, we would be glad to hear from them.”

Mr Ó Caoláin said if it was the case that his party’s proposals fell short in any way, in terms of current spending, Ireland would be infinitely better off going to the open market and paying additional percentages for a much smaller sum of money.