TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said that discussions on a deal regarding Ireland’s legacy bank debt will be conducted by the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan throughout 2013.

Ahead of a meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today, Kenny has said that today’s discussions will revolve around Ireland’s presidency of the EU, which begins on 1 January, and ‘The Gathering’ project.

In a video recorded for MerrionStreet.ie, Kenny notes the joint communique issued by Merkel and himself last month regarding Ireland’s ‘special’ status when it comes to dealing with its €64 billion in legacy bank debt.

But he said that the matter – concerning whether or not Ireland can access eurozone bailout funds to retroactively capitalise banks – will not be up for discussion today despite pressure from opposition parties for the matter to be dealt with more promptly in order to ease the debt burden.

Kenny said: “Our meeting today is not about making a decision on a deal for Irish bank debt. That matter will be discussed and negotiated by the Minister for Finance during the course of 2013.”

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Guten Morgen: Enda Kenny to meet Angela Merkel in Berlin today