Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have been advised that the Minister for Finance wishes to make an announcement for the information of the House. I call the Minister to do so.

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I wish to make an announcement to the House. The Government has been committed to reviewing the arrangements that were put in place to capitalise the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide. The purpose of this review is to determine if there is a way to reduce the overall cost to the State. Part of the capitalisation of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation was provided using promissory notes as a consideration. The second instalment under the promissory notes arrangement is due on 31 March 2012. We have the funds available in our programme to make this scheduled debt payment. On Wednesday of last week, I informed the House that discussions were taking place with the EU authorities on the basis that the €3.06 billion promissory note instalment due on 31 March 2012 "could be settled by the delivery of a long-term Irish Government bond". This proposal, which would result in the €3.06 billion cash payment due from the Exchequer at the end of the month being deferred, does not involve any adjustment or variation to the terms of the promissory notes. The use of an Irish Government bond in relation to the promissory note payment allows the wider discussions to continue between the Irish authorities and the troika, both on the promissory notes arrangement and on how to advance the return to normality of the Irish banking system, thus improving the availability of banking services in support of economic recovery.

There are significant advantages to this approach. This payment was included in our debt repayment schedule for 2012 and this proposal removes the requirement for the Exchequer to settle in cash the €3.06 billion promissory note instalment. There is a significant cash flow benefit to the Exchequer in 2012 and our long-term debt sustainability is enhanced. This will have an impact worth approximately €90 million on the general Government deficit in 2012 which is small relative to the overall benefit of the removal of the requirement for the Exchequer to settle €3.06 billion in cash.

The €3.06 billion of programme funding that would otherwise have been used to make the promissory note payment should potentially allow greater flexibility around when and the level at which Ireland returns to the capital markets. As noted by the Governor of the Central Bank in his appearance before the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: "There is a very definitive gain in debt sustainability." The net effect of this transaction is to reduce the economic cost for the State as a whole of refinancing this payment. Given these benefits, the Government is going to proceed with the proposed settlement arrangement.

The Economic Management Council, along with officials from the Department of Finance and representatives of the Central Bank and the NTMA, have been working on this Government bond settlement proposal to determine its finer details.

Put simply, €3.06 billion will be settled by delivery to IBRC of a long-term Government bond with an equivalent fair value. Ultimately, it is intended that this long-term Government bond will be financed for one year, on commercial terms, with Bank of Ireland, which may in turn refinance the bond with the ECB. While this transaction has been approved by Bank of Ireland's board, it remains subject to the approval of the Bank of Ireland shareholders.

As a short-term interim measure, pending the results of Bank of Ireland's shareholders' vote, the financing of the bond will be a collateralised facility provided by NAMA to IBRC on equivalent commercial terms as the financing with Bank of Ireland. NAMA is in a position to facilitate this collateralised financing from its own funds. This financing approach reduces the level of emergency liquidity assistance provided by the Central Bank of Ireland to IBRC.

This approach reinforces the commitment of our European partners in assisting the State in its path to recovery. The Government thanks all parties to these discussions for their constructive approach and positive engagement in this regard.

I urge caution in spite of today's success. The State still has a very sizable Exchequer deficit of public spending over revenue of €15.8 billion. If we want a State that supports the creation of jobs, we must continue on the path of closing this gap over time. While this arrangement reduces the amount of our national debt repayable in 2012 it has no impact on the measures introduced in the budget for 2012. The Government's primary objective in this regard is to reduce the general Government deficit to meet the 8.6% deficit target in 2012.

While this development in regard to the end of March payment is positive, we must keep our eye on the greater benefits that would derive from the re-engineering of the promissory note and also the potential improvements for the continuing banking sector which could also stem from the ongoing technical discussions. It is for these reasons that we must consider the recent developments as an initial step to facilitate a project in respect of which success, if achieved, will be in the medium term rather than immediate. These discussions will continue, and the Government is focused on developing an alternative solution to the promissory note arrangement with IBRC. The ongoing discussions may also explore options to refinance the long-term Government bond issued in settlement of the March 31 payment. We all want to arrive at a successful conclusion that is in the interest of Ireland and the European Union.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will now return to the Topical Issue Debate.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, is the Ceann Comhairle providing an opportunity for Opposition spokesmen to ask questions?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am afraid not. As the Minister was making an announcement, there is no provision for a response. Precedent rules out any further statements.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On a point of order-----

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Are we allowed to make even a brief response?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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My problem is that there are Deputies who have topical issues tabled. The Topical Issue Debate is to be followed by Question Time and the Dáil must finish.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We will wait.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the House wants to extend the sitting, perhaps it can return to this matter later. Now, however, we must continue with the business we are dealing with.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Given that there is good news-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We either have it or we do not.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am next to contribute on the Topical Issue Debate and have no problem waiting.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I know that. I ask the Deputy to resume his seat for the moment. I have a predicament in that precedent shows there is not provision for any comments or statements after an announcement.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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This is unprecedented.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister for Finance announced that he was making an announcement. That is not a statement as far as I am concerned.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Minister allow for statements?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister cannot make a ruling; I must do so, unfortunately. I will facilitate the House-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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This is an issue of national importance meriting statements.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If the Deputy stops shouting at me, we might get somewhere. If the Whips wish to meet and make some arrangement about further statements later, I will be facilitative.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Later today.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes. It is up to the House.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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That makes no sense.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister make himself available to answer questions?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Whips.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is not available later to take questions.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Minister or Taoiseach could indicate now-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Fitzpatrick.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is that the Ceann Comhairle's final ruling?