1.59pm GMT

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin (left) and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan after today's press conference. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA

After years of covering the eurozone crisis, it's a pleasant change to watch two politicians talk about ending a financial assistance programme, rather than tumbling into one.

But while finance minister Michael Noonan and public expenditure minister Brendan Howlin were upbeat, there was no triumphalism on display. And rightly not, given the pain in recent years. And the struggles to come.

And we shouldn't forget the Ireland will still be paying the bailout back for many years after it ends on Sunday.

Here's some key points from the briefing

• It's not just the end of the bailout that's historic. Howlin suggested the Irish banking crisis was the most dangerous time for Ireland since the state was created (in the 1920s). By the end, Noonan had declared it was the worst since the Famine (mid-19th Century).

As with the famine, the emigration seen in recent years could scar Ireland for many more years unless it can lure people back.

• Ending the bailout is "not the end of the road". Ireland has already announced a new round of spending cuts and tax rises for next year, in the 2014 budget announced recently. Noonan was clear that further cuts lie ahead if Ireland is to lower its deficit to 3% by 2015.

This isn't the end of the road. This is a very significant milestone on the road...But we must continue with the same types of policies.

( Civil servants have already been outlining the cuts to the world's media).

• But it's goodbye, almost, to the Troika. The financial markets can be a nasty place when you lose the confidence of investors. But one good thing about bond traders is that they just want their money back (with a profit). They don't also tell you how to run your country.

• The eurozone has changed a lot since 2010. Noonan reminded the press conference that three years, the idea of forcing losses from failed banks on senior creditors was anathema. Now it's official policy. Too late for the Irish taxpayer - who must keep hoping for some retrospective help for taking 'one for the team' in 2011.

• Kick a politician where it really hurts - in the ballot box. Chanting on the streets wins headlines and gets the media attention (guilty, M'Lud), but the message from Ireland is that if you really want to make your leaders suffer, you kick them out of office. Hard.

Brendan Howlin has got the message, talking about the democratic riot in 2011 when the government was thrown out on its ear.

• Better times bring new problems, especially for coalitions. Noonan and Howlin maintained a united front today, but there's clearly the danger of a rift between the two coalition partners over fiscal policy.

The centre-right Fine Gael is inclined towards cutting income tax; Labour favours increased spending. The classic political tussle, which couldn't take place while the Troika were calling the shots.

And on that note, I'm going to suspend the blog. We'll re-open it if there are any major developments. Thanks for all the comments (well worth a read as ever). GW.