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Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Bailout
Taoiseach brands interest rate conditions 'unfair'
Enda Kenny has said that states blocking movement on the question of a reduction in the interest rate for Ireland were also blocking Europe’s progress.
THE TAOSIEACH HAS said that demands that Ireland raise its corporation tax rate in return for a reduction in the interest rate applied to the country’s bailout loans are “unfair”.
Enda Kenny said that the EU had a duty to assist member states that are “meeting the serious challenges” faced, and warned that those states blocking movement on the question of a reduction in the interest rate for Ireland were also blocking Europe’s interests, the Irish Times reports.
Kenny vowed to raise the issue at a meeting of European leaders at the end of this month, saying it was “unfair that this is being allowed to drag because of national issues”, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin accused Kenny of failing to properly negotiate with Europe on the issue, and added that there had been a failure “to fulfil the mandate given them by the European council leaders to deliver lower funding costs to all countries”.
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