Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw, Michael Noonan added that he was confident France’s Francois Hollande was in favour of the EU’s fiscal rules and said Ireland did not oppose his drive of adding “growth elements” to the pact.

“It would help us…if Mr.Hollande would soon clarify what he would like to add to the treaty,” Noonan said.

“We are concerned about this in Ireland where we are in the middle of the referendum campaign, it doesn’t sit so well with us (talk of changes to the treaty). But I am not sure it’s about rejection of austerity in France.”

Well, Shane Ross did warn them.