Ministers split on how much of bank stress tests to publish

EU finance ministers are split on how much information to publish from the stress tests being carried out on 91 European banks, in a move that is likely to damage their credibility.

Ireland has come down on the side of those that favour publishing banks exposure to sovereign debt with Minister of State, Martin Mansergh, saying hiding information would defeat the exercise.

Mr Mansergh, who attended the finance ministers meeting in Brussels, and Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, speaking in Dublin, said they believed AIB and Bank of Ireland would pass the tests easily.