Irish officials went on a tour of the Gulf states to talk them into bringing business to recession-hit Ireland and briefed them on the country's troubled bank assets, which the central bank has said are up for sale.

Ireland's International Financial Services Centre head John Bruton led the delegation of financial and central bank officials on a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE.

An English-language newspaper in Abu Dhabi, The National, cited a UAE sovereign wealth fund executive as saying Irish officials were sounding out Gulf sovereign wealth funds to gauge interest in the country's banks, which have to restructure as part of an 85 billion euro ($113 billion) EU/IMF bailout.

Bruton said the purpose of the trip was to attract financial services into Dublin, a key centre for funds administration in Europe, rather than to promote the sale of Ireland's banks.

'I was there exclusively to promote international financial services out of Ireland (in) that part of the world. If you go to countries like that, they'll ask you all sorts of questions on budgetary situations including this one on assets,' Bruton said from Frankfurt on his way back to Ireland.

'That was not my purpose in going there, but while I was meeting various people who are in demand of assets, we briefed them generally on the overall Irish assets available, on assets available in National Asset Management Agency and in banks and otherwise.'

He said he was not representing the government in an official capacity.

Bruton, a former prime minister, said his delegation had met with Gulf central bank governors, heads of businesses, banks and fund managers as well as Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Saudi investment firm Kingdom Holding.

The Saudi firm has minority stakes in some of the world's top companies and recently subscribed $500 million to bailed-out General Motors' initial public offering last month.

The Gulf's sovereign wealth funds have eyed opportunities in crisis-hit euro zone countries. In September, Greece and Qatar signed a framework deal that paved the way for Doha to invest in energy and banking sectors.

Greece was the first euro zone country to seek external assistance.

Ireland's parliament pushed through the third major vote underpinning its harsh 2011 budget yesterday, setting the stage for its expected approval next month and a general election shortly afterwards.

Ireland's toughest budget on record - which targets 6bn euros in spending cuts and tax increases - is a precondition to releasing IMF/EU rescue funds to shore up the country's stricken banking sector and fund its deficit.

Deputies in the lower chamber passed the financial emergency measures in the public interest bill, which covers cuts to public sector pensions and the minimum wage, with 79 votes for and 74 against.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan told parliament that Ireland would start drawing down part of the 85bn euros emergency funding next year.

A final vote on taxation measures will be taken early next year, paving the way for Prime Minister Brian Cowen to call an early election, which he is expected to lose to the opposition centre-right Fine Gael and centre-left Labour parties.