Public ‘will see benefits’ of €1bn deal

The public will see “tangible benefits” from the landmark €1bn promissory note deal struck last week, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore insisted yesterday.

But while he described the money saved as the “people’s money”, he stopped short of saying when or how the benefits will be felt.

He was responding to calls yesterday, led by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, for the Government to use the deal to introduce a less harsh budget this year following almost five years of austerity.