Leader to support better Irish bank deal

The leader of the German Greens has said her European party colleagues will support a better bank deal for Ireland.

The leader of the German Greens has said her European party colleagues will support a better bank deal for Ireland.

Rebecca Harms MEP and leader of the Greens/Free Alliance told the Green Foundation Ireland (GFI) summer school in Wexford that German chancellor Angela Merkel’s response to the euro crisis as “too little too late”.

“Ireland has been a stronger country than others during the crisis. We see Ireland as a nation with a history of overcoming adversity. The Germans feel that Ireland has the strength to draw itself out of the swamp,” Ms Harms said.

She said the German Greens would argue for a better deal for Ireland with debt-for- equity swaps and lengthening the IRBC’s repayment terms.

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“The Greens in Europe are ready to support all things which can help keep Europe, not only the euro, together.

Former Green Party chairman Dan Boyle is a director of GFI. Former Green MEP Nuala Ahern is its chairwoman.

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times