Coveney: Ireland in no position to demand debt deal for yes vote

Ireland is in no position to “put a gun to anybody’s head” and demand sweeteners for a yes vote in the fiscal treaty referendum, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said.

He was one of several cabinet members who yesterday insisted the referendum, and efforts to secure a cheaper deal on the Anglo bailout, needed to be kept separate. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said it would be “unhelpful” to link the two, as such an attempt would probably be “slapped down” by Europe.

It followed comments to the Financial Times by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton that a cheaper deal on Anglo would be “helpful” in terms of passing the referendum.