Bank deal on table as EU leaders meet

A deal on the country’s bank debt could get a boost from the EU leaders summit that begins today in Brussels, but there is no sign that Taoiseach Enda Kenny will find a solution just yet.

At best officials hope member states will agree some elements of the banking union vital to cut the cost and recover some of the €64bn Ireland pumped into the banks.

There are reports that Spain will officially request aid that should then trigger the ECB into buying their bonds on the secondary market and cut the cost of their debt.