Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is incorrect in assuming that a deal is certain. What I said was that it was likely. In saying that, I reiterate what I said in advance of the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels last December. I was asked if Ireland would be paying the promissory note and I replied that because a deal was likely it was unlikely that we would be paying it in full. There is no advance on that. The Deputy should not assume a deal is certain. There are still significant parts of the negotiation to be completed.

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