Noonan still hopeful of bank debt deal

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan says he 'would hope for a deal' on Ireland's bank debt before the budget in December.

Noonan says he has not scaled back his hopes for a large finance deal despite recent concerns raised by the Germans, Dutch and Finns.

Those three countries ruled out using EU money on legacy debt, casting doubt on Ireland's prospects of a sizable deal.

Yet Noonan added he still hopes to have an agreement reached before he announces his budget in December.

“October or November I would be hoping for. It would suit my forward planning if we had a definite indication of what the result might be before the budget.

“In terms of the politics of it, the most crucial political date is having to pay €3bn at the end of March to honour the commitments of the promissory note.”