People sceptical new Irish government can deliver

Dublin: A new government has yet to be elected in Ireland but many people are already sceptical about what it can achieve.

More than two years into a financial crisis that has forced them to seek assistance from the EU and the IMF, Irish people are acutely aware of how weak their bargaining position is with the powers that be in Brussels and Washington.

Claims by the centre-right Fine Gael and centre-left Labour parties, in pole position to form the next coalition after a February 25 poll, that they can re-negotiate the terms of the 85 billion euro (Dh429 billion) bailout are greeted with weary shakes of the head along O'Connell Street, Dublin's main thoroughfare.

Absolute confidence

"I've absolutely no confidence in what we've had but what's going to replace them I don't have much more confidence in," said Eddie Riley, a 31-year-old teacher.

Ireland may be granted longer to repay its rescue loans and a lower rate of interest, according to EU officials negotiating on crisis resolution plans likely to be adopted in March.

But such a concession will be part of European-wide plans to deal with the bloc's debt crisis rather than a reaction to lobbying by Ireland's main opposition parties. Voters are itching to punish Prime Minister Brian Cowen's government over the economic meltdown but many blame the entire political class.