Government defends troika’s silence during visit

The Government has defended the troika’s decision to refuse any questioning from the media during its 10-day trip to Dublin to check the country is not reneging on its bailout promises.

It came as Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath insisted the spotlight must be put on the “crippling” standard variable mortgage rate of 5.19% charged by Permanent TSB when the bank’s future comes up for discussion during the review mission by the troika.

The IMF/EU/ECB team will also shun opposition politicians in an apparent bid not to be drawn into party wrangling ahead of the May 31 referendum on European fiscal union.