Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the decision not to seek to conclude a deal on Ireland's bailout interest rate at the two-day summit in Brussels was reached after a phone call with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy yesterday.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the summit, Mr Kenny said it was better to know the full extent of the liabilities facing the Irish banking sector before continuing with negotiations.
He rejected what he called 'extreme figures' being 'bandied about' regarding the scale of the recapitalisation needs in the sector, without specifying what they were.
Earlier, Mr Kenny said he preferred to wait for the banking stress test results before looking for changes to the EU/IMF rescue deal. He said he was more interested in substance rather than theory.
However, speaking in the Dáil today, Sinn Féin said the Government 'completely changed' its negotiation stance in advance of today's EU summit.
Mary Lou McDonald said the Coalition has now said the reduction in the interest rate for the EU/IMF deal is off the table, and that the notion of burden-sharing is 'being kicked down the road'.
She said the Government must explain why it has changed its strategy.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore insisted the Government has not done a U-turn on its negotiation strategy in advance of today's EU summit.
Mr Gilmore said that the Taoiseach is in Brussels to do his very best for the country and added he is sure that Mr Kenny has the full support of this House in doing so.
