The government has cleared another hurdle to repay our International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout loans early.

The move would save the taxpayer hundreds of millions of euro.

It would see us borrowing at lower interest rates and paying off more than €15bn.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has this afternoon secured the support of all other Eurozone finance ministers.

It will go before a meeting of all 28 European Union finance ministers tomorrow.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says it will save taxpayers money by the end of the year.