".... to "lend" up to £7 billion to Southern Ireland when we don't know if it will be paid back. "
I take it you don't accept the offer as investment, but just mindless altruism on the part of capitalism then Richard?
You must really have thought it through.
Your "we don't know if it will be paid back" indicates that you seem to believe that 'we' have something to gain or lose in all this, or are you just rallying round the flag?
Jim Carroll