Greece rejects Taoiseach’s personal appeal to toe line

Greece has rejected a personal plea from Taoiseach Enda Kenny to back down and follow Ireland’s austerity agenda as its radical prime minister Alexis Tsipras insisted he would put his people first, not creditors.

As crisis negotiations to try and avoid an explosive Greek exit from the eurozone broke down for the fourth time in eight days at a tense EU leaders summit in Brussels, Mr Tsipras continued to hold out against intense pressure to cut pensions.

With pensions now propping up more Greek families than salaries in its crisis-hit economy, Mr Kenny’s bid to persuade Mr Tsipras to emulate Ireland’s path ended in failure.

The Greek prime minister hit back: “We have to think of the families relying on a pension for the last five years and it’s not a game for us.”

Europe Minister Dara Murphy said: “We are not dumping on Greece but we want to help them achieve an economy that can grow and create jobs... Ireland has been through this process and that’s why the Taoiseach’s comments are appropriate.”

Negotiations are continuing as Tuesday’s deadline looms for the troika to release funds Greece needs to pay the IMF its next €1.6bn without defaulting.