The Taoiseach has rejected opposition claims that Ireland's chance of getting a debt deal from the EU is slipping away.
Enda Kenny told the Dáil that discussions to lower the cost of the Anglo Irish Bank promissory note and the sovereign debt related to the other banks were still in progress.
Independent TD Shane Ross noted the opposition of other EU countries to giving Ireland a deal until after EU-wide bank supervision is in place sometime next year.
But Enda Kenny told Deputy Ross that a deal was still on the table.
"Has this deal gone down the tubes?" Deputy Ross asked today.
"It's not disappearing," the Taoiseach said. "I note the comments of (European Central Bank President Mario) Draghi, Commissioner Rehn, the IMF and the European Commission, all strongly favouring politically a decision to be made in regard to (Ireland) easing its way out of this bailout programme."