LONDON (MNI) – Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Thursday he
wanted to see a “tentative” return to the bond markets by the end of
next year, and he stressed that his country has never sought a debt
writedown.
Speaking at a Reuters event here, Taoiseach Kenny said any debt
writedown would deter investors and that Greece should be seen as a
one-off case.
“Why would investors want to invest in a country emerging from a
bailout position if there are likely to be debt writedowns? We have
never looked for a debt writedown. We are going to pay our way in full
and on time,” Kenny said.
Asked when Ireland would return to the bond markets, Kenny replied,
“we want to get back to the bond markets as quickly as possible. Our
programme runs for the next two years. We would like to see a tentative
return to the markets, in some form or other, by the end of next year.”
He added that the International Monetary Fund had been very
supportive of Ireland’s position, and that Dublin would stick to its
austerity programme.
–London newsroom: +44 20 7862 7491; email: drobinson@marketnews.com
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