Irish Finance Minister Lenihan is downplaying fears of an Irish financial meltdown and talk of Ireland leaving the eurozone. Credit default swaps have narrowed in Ireland’s favor, showing investors are” making a bet on Ireland”, he says. He says he does not see the recession sparking the recent surge in paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. Irish unemployment will reach 12% by the end of 2009, he says. He is now confident on a “yes” vote for the Lisbon Treaty, which Ireland rejected last June.The Lisbon Treaty is, in effect, a watered down EU constitution. Ireland now needs the EU more than ever.