‘ECB must do deal on Anglo notes by March’

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has given the ECB a deadline of the end of March to agree a deal on the €3.1 billion Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes.

Negotiations are at an advanced stage on the vexed issue between the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank and the Government.

But Mr Noonan was remarkably blunt about the issue when asked about it on his way into a eurozone finance ministers meeting in Brussels.