Kenny: Bailout interest rate will be resolved 'within weeks'

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that once the results of the bank stress tests are known next week talks with the ECB on fixing Ireland's banks will resume.

At the end of a two-day summit Mr Kenny said the issue of the interest rate on Ireland's bailout loan should be resolved "within weeks".

European Finance Ministers are expected to finalise matters after it was pushed off the agenda because of the unfolding crisis in Portugal.

The Taoiseach said Finance Minister Michael Noonan and his EU counterparts will be better placed to negotiate a deal once the true state of the Irish banks is known.