Taoiseach: We will not 'have name of defaulter across our foreheads'
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said Ireland would "end up like Greece" if the country were not to pay bondholders of the former Anglo Irish Bank.
Mr Kenny said Ireland would end up going around "with the name defaulter across our foreheads", as a result.
His comments come as the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation prepares to pay €1.25bn to Anglo bondholders tomorrow.
The Taoiseach has said there is no choice but to pay the debt.
Mr Kenny said: "I have no intention of defaulting on Ireland's position and ending up with the difficulties that the citizens of Greece now find themselves in where 100,000 public servants have been left off, where pay rates have been decimated and where services are under serious pressure.
"Is that the kind of Ireland that the leadership of the Sinn Féin Party actually stands for."
The Taoiseach said there would not be any benefit to Ireland reneging on these debts.
He said: "We are not going to have the name defaulter written across our foreheads.
"We will pay our way, we have never looked for a debt write-down. We do want an extension of flexibility in these facilities to help our taxpayers to help us deal with our deficit and to help us pay our debts in a more realistic fashion."
