From 1995 to 2007, fuelled by low business taxes, the Republic's economy grew rapidly year-after-year. And there was big - seemingly easy - money to be made for overseas banks lending to their Irish counterparts. Unfortunately, the Irish Republic's strong economic growth also fuelled a property boom that since 2008 has dramatically collapsed.
As a result, the government has had to bail out the main Irish banks to the tune of 45bn euros ($60bn; £39bn) to cover their bad property debts, effectively nationalising the lenders in the process.
Haircut' threat?
However, the Republic's banks are still on an insecure footing, as confirmed by the analysis this week by eurozone finance ministers.Meeting in Brussels, they said in a joint statement that "further reforms and stabilisation measures may be appropriate [for Irish Republic banks]."
This has raised the suggestion that overseas banks which lent so heavily to Irish banks - and in doing so helped to worsen the Irish property boom and bust - will have to see some losses on their investments. Or as the markets are calling it, "take a haircut".
Figures reveal what is at stake for the overseas banks. According to the Bank for International Settlements, foreign lenders still have $170bn (£107bn) invested in Irish banks. Of this total, $46bn has come from German banks, $42bn from British banks, $25bn from US banks, and $21bn from French banks. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today
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