Jean Claude Trichet has said that the ECB probably did more for Ireland in terms of the financing the economy than for any other economy in the euro area, and perhaps more than any other central bank for any economy.
The former president of the European Central Bank made the comments in an interview with the Reuters news agency.
Asked whether he agreed with the view that Spanish banks are getting easier terms for their bailout than the Irish banks, he said he would not engage in such comparisons.
"These were difficult circumstances in a difficult period of time, with the crisis which was unfolding," he said.
Asked when the so-called "Trichet letters" - the correspondence between the ECB and the previous Finance Minister Brian Lenihan before Ireland accepted the bailout - would be made public, Mr Trichet said: "I will not elaborate on that again, I rely entirely on the Government of Ireland."
Mr Trichet said he had had a lot of conversations with the Irish Government, and a lot of conversation with all governments of Europe during his time as ECB president.
He said his message to all of them was: " You have to be as sound as possible as circumstances are exceptionally grave."
Asked whether he understood the depth of feeling in Ireland about the issue that the ECB may have pressured Ireland into taking a bailout, Mr Trichet said that the Irish economy is in a difficult situation.
"Nevertheless, there had been in the past [in Ireland] decisions, or the absence of decisions - I don't want to comment on that. But we did more for Ireland than we did for any other country," he stated.
France, Spain: Europe must meet promises in crisis
French and Spanish leaders say that the 17-country euro zone has all the tools it needs to solve its debt crisis and just needs to put its promises into action.
President Francois Hollande said that if European leaders resolve questions about the future of the euro zone, growth will bounce back.
He pointed specifically to a plan to increase supervision of European banks and one that would allow the European Central Bank to buy the bonds of countries that are struggling with high borrowing costs.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy echoed that sentiment, saying: "We have to show that we're serious people and that we do what we say we're going to do."
The men spoke after a meeting today at which they also discussed joint infrastructure projects.
