The Taoiseach has insisted he raised the issue of relief for Ireland’s bank debt at last week’s European summit during sharp exchanges with the Sinn Féin leader in the Dáil.
Enda Kenny said he had referred to “the challenge faced by the Irish people whereby this country borrowed €63 billion for bank recapitalisation at excessive interest rates before the bailout’’.
He said Ireland wanted to get into a position where it could pay off the debt over a longer period and with a very substantial saving for the Irish taxpayer.
Earlier, Gerry Adams had said Mr Kenny had shared at a briefing with Opposition leaders a letter he had written to European Council president Herman Van Rompuy.
It was a fine letter, which said the issue would be raised at the meeting.
“Then, this morning, at our briefing, you told us you did not do this, you did not raise it,’’ Mr Adams added.
“I was wondering: did you forget? Did you leave the letter behind you? Were your tired?’’
Accusing Mr Adams of deliberately misinterpreting what he had said at the briefing, Mr Kenny said: “Now if you did not hear that this morning, either you or your adviser do not understand plain English.’’