Irish bank tests major step - EU/IMF statement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bank stress tests published on Thursday are a major step to restoring Ireland's banking system to health and can be comfortably funded under the country's IMF-EU bailout program, the European Commission, IMF and European Central Bank said in a joint statement.

"The EC, ECB and IMF staff welcome the rigorous capital needs assessment and strongly support the authorities' plans to ensure that these capital needs are met in a timely manner," they said in the statement.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton)