Irish taxes were between 33% and 37% prior to the crisis. That I think is to low. It should be possible to raise this level to 40-45%.

Or you can cut the level of expenditures to 33-37%. But I don't think you can run a real welfare state on this.

Now regarding the middle of a depression: I don't assume that Ireland will in three or five or ten years still in the middle of a depression. And then taxes can be rised. And debts be serviced.

As for paying back - why? States are long lived. If Ireland wants to keep the debt another fifty years, why not. Economic growth will then make the debt more bearable.

But in the next few years, if not in the next few months Ireland can arrange its public budget in a way that the interest can be paid. More I do not assert.