Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, in regard to the promissory notes, which were the subject of the case taken by the Deputy to the High Court and on which High Court on Tuesday gave a judgment in favour of the State and ruled in favour of the State on all substantive grounds, the Government's approach has delivered results for Ireland. The reality is that the promissory notes have been part of Government debt since they were issued in 2010 by the previous Government. It was never, therefore, an option for the State to renege on those payments, as non-payment would be akin to a sovereign default.

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