Most voters believe bailout deal will have to be honoured
An emphatic 67% are very much of the opinion that the deal agreed by the outgoing government will have to be honoured in its entirety by the new administration.
The voters were asked directly if they believed any new government would be able to renegotiate the terms of the bailout.
A quarter of voters in Kerry South had formed the opinion that the terms of EU/IMF rescue package could be reworked, with 8% in the “don’t know” category.
It is also clear that any re-negotiation of the rescue package is not at the top of their priority list, with jobs, emigration and a better health service heading the chief concerns.
This is despite the fact that Fine Gael and Labour — the parties likely to head up the new government — have both indicated that they will work to renegotiate the bailout conditions which, they insist, is a bad deal for Ireland.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny insists that the bailout repayment commitments will not help restore investor confidence and that a reduction in the interest rates is required if Ireland is to be in a position to rebuild the economy.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, meantime, has insisted right through the election campaign that a re-negotiation of the bailout agreement would be a priority for his party if returned to power.
He said the package agreed needs to be adjusted to incorporate a job creation strategy and to ensure the bond holders share the burden of debt incurred because of the mismanagement in the banks.
Fianna Fáil continues to insist that Ireland’s obligations under the terms of the EU/IMF bailout will have to be honoured by the new government.
