Kenny plays down Rabbitte Anglo claim

Taoiseach Enda Kenny appeared to pour cold water on Pat Rabbitte’s assertion that the Government would not pay up on the looming €3.1bn promissory note due to the former Anglo Irish Bank in March.

Mr Kenny struck a much more cautious tone when questioned on the Communications and Energy Minister’s remarks, stating: “The next payment is due in March next year. Our focus is on having a deal done before then — on re-engineering and restructuring before then so it won’t have to be paid.

“I didn’t see the programme. I assume he is referring to the politics of this, and this is where our focus has been — with the Department of Finance, the ECB, and officials at European level — to have a decision on restructuring and reengineering the promissory notes before March”