Ireland's bailed-out economy grew by 0.9 percent in 2012 but stagnated in the final quarter of the year, official data for the troubled eurozone nation showed on Thursday.

Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said Tuesday the European Parliament has approved setting up a single eurozone bank supervisor which supporters say will help stop troubled banks forcing their governments to seek bailouts.

Eurozone finance ministers approved early Saturday plans to give bailed-out Ireland and Portugal more time to pay back some of their massive rescue loans.

Europe's main stock markets closed higher on Thursday on upbeat news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and a decline of US jobless claims for a third straight week, dealers said.

London shares closed higher on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and US jobless claims declined for a third straight week, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and US jobless claims declined for a third straight week, dealers said.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme, dealers said.

State-rescued Bank of Ireland said on Monday that it plunged into the red in 2012 after it was hit by a soaring level of bad debts.

Ireland has reached a landmark deal with the European Central Bank to re-structure the massive debts of the former Anglo Irish Bank, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Thursday.

Ireland has reached a deal with the European Central Bank to re-structure the debts of the former Anglo Irish Bank, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Thursday.

Irish lawmakers voted through emergency legislation to liquidate the former Anglo Irish bank early Thursday, as part of a deal to ease the eurozone country's massive debt burden.

Portugal and Ireland have received the support of eurozone finance ministers to extend the life of bailout loans to help them to borrow normally, Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said on Tuesday.

The Irish government said it was confident of reaching an agreement with its creditors to reduce the mammoth debt burden incurred during its rescue of the banking sector.

Ireland should defer additional austerity budgets until 2015 if the bailed-out country misses its economic targets next year, the IMF said.

The International Monetary Fund disbursed a fresh $1.17 billion (890 million euros) to Ireland on Monday, approving the country's progress under its two-year-old rescue program.

Crisis-hit Ireland needs more time to repay its bank bailout funds, the eurozone member's central bank governor Patrick Honohan said in an interview with a German daily Saturday.

Bailed-out eurozone member Ireland on Wednesday launched its sixth austerity budget aimed at raising 3.5 billion euros via painful taxation hikes and public spending cuts.

Ireland lifted its 2012 economic growth forecast on Wednesday, but cut its predictions for the following three years due to ongoing fallout from the eurozone crisis, the government said Wednesday.

Bailed-out Bank of Ireland raised one billion euros ($1.27 billion) on Tuesday in its biggest foray into the bond market in over three years.

For many residents of Moneygall, the Irish ancestral home of Barack Obama, they are not just hoping he is re-elected -- they are relying on it.