Kenny accused of ‘charade’ over promissory note deal

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of orchestrating an “elaborate charade” to deflect attention from what will amount to an Irish humiliation over the looming €3.1bn Anglo promissory note payment.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett made the accusation as he called on the Government to tell the ECB it will no longer honour the massive debt.

He dismissed claims from within the Coalition that failure to secure a deal could lead to a snap general election or impact badly on public sector wages as “calculated drama” intended to “soften-up” public opinion as the Anglo payment date of Mar 31 approaches.