Does Republic of Ireland need an EU bailout?

The European Union is facing a "survival crisis" if the single currency fails because of the debt faced by some of the euro zone countries.

That is the view of leading economists, including Dr. Constantine Gurdgiev, who says EU partners are seriously concerned about any "spillover" arising from the Irish problems.

Finance ministers will meet in Brussels today to discuss the issues.

As the BBC's correspondent Mark Simpson reports, the Irish Republic is insisting it does not need help from an EU bailout.