NTMA reports positive reaction to Government bond sale

The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has sold a large batch of Treasury Bills on the private markets at a 1.8% yield, on a three-month basis, the Dáil was told this morning.

The NTMA disposed of €500m worth of the bonds.

The interest rate achieved is better than the 2% anticipated.

It marks Ireland's return to the international debt market, and the sale will be used to gauge our readiness for a full return to the markets next year.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn, who was taking leader's questions in the Dáil this morning, made the announcement a short time ago, to mixed reaction.

"The House may be interested to know that the NTMA sold bonds at a 1.8% yeild," he said.

"That's less than the estimated 2% that was in fact [anticpiated]."

He later branded the Opposition "pathetic" for their reaction to the news.

"You can't even accept good news, God love ya," he said.

"You can't even accept good news. You're really pathetic."