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Kenny and Gilmore speaking outside Government Buildings today. Sinead O'Carroll/TheJournal.ie

Ireland must progress in seeking 'long-term sustainable deal' for Ireland's bank debt

Taoiseach and Tánaiste say Ireland should get a better deal and that the banking debt should be part of a wider approach to tackling European debt.

THE GOVERNMENT has welcomed the results of the Fiscal Treaty referendum, with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste saying that the outcome strengthens Ireland’s position in negotiating with EU institutions and other EU members.

“The Irish people have sent a powerful signal that this is a country that is serious about overcoming its economic challenges,” Enda Kenny said this afternoon.

“The decision that we had to take as a country was not an easy one given all that we’ve been through,” he said, adding that he commended the Irish people for their “pragmatism” in understanding the magnitude of the situation.

Speaking alongside Kenny outside Government Buildings, Eamon Gilmore said that the referendum outcome was a necessary step towards recovery, but “we now have to build on it”: ”Stability is necessary for growth, and growth is essential for recovery.”

Gilmore added that Ireland must also progress in seeking a long-term sustainable deal for Ireland’s bank debt.

“We take this result not just as a passing of the treaty itself,” he added, but as a call for the government to redouble its efforts in pushing for a better deal. He said that the result “strengthens our hand in negotiations with EU institutions and other EU members”.

On the issue of debt, Kenny said that “Ireland’s banking debt must form part of a wider European solution” to the international banking crisis.

Head-to-head

Responding to questions outside Government Buildings, Kenny dismissed suggestions he would not be a strong negotiator because he was reluctant to debate Sinn Féin TD Gerry Adams.

“I stood up to a lot more pressure than Gerry Adams could ever exert on me,” he said, referring to pressure on Ireland to change its stance on its corporate tax rate.

“There has never been a tradition of head-to-head referendum debates over in this country and I won’t be shoved around by Sinn Féin in any event.”

This afternoon, National Returning Officer Ríona Ní Fhlanghaile announced the final results of yesterday’s referendum, giving a 60.3 per cent Yes vote (with a margin of 326,003 votes over the No votes). The national turnout was 50.6 per cent.

Earlier today, Gerry Adams commended the returning officers on their work, but criticised the government for it’s “scare tactics” throughout the Yes campaign.

Responding to questions about whether the government had frightened people into voting No, Kenny said that people had made up their own minds on the issue and said that the only fear in the referendum campaigns was generated by the No side.

Kenny also commented on Minister for Finance Michael Noonan’s remarks during the referendum campaign that the next Budget would be tougher after a No vote. The Taoiseach clarified today that Budget 2013 will not be easier as a result of the referendum’s Yes outcome.

- Additional reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll

LIVEBLOG: Ireland votes Yes in Fiscal Compact referendum >

‘Govt has been sent clear message they have to get their act together’ – Brian Hayes >

Follow all of TheJournal.ie‘s referendum coverage >

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    Mute Bobby
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Id say those under 60 are not much better.

    64
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jun 6th 2014, 4:47 PM

    I must be one of the 18%,ever since i stopped smoking 7 years ago i took to cycling excersize with a vengence, clocking up anything from 150/200 km per week on mostly coastal trips,as a form of excersize to help keep the body in shape it is very hard to beat, and would have no hesitation whatever in recommending it,just remember to wear proper hi vis clothing with helmet and a good pair of extra strong sole shoes used just for cycling shoes,and of course a good hibrid bike with strong tyres are a must.

    42
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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:41 PM

    You do 200k on a hybrid? Is your back made of titanium?

    14
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    Mute richardmccarthy
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    Jun 6th 2014, 7:11 PM

    Well Emily i never had a problem with back strenght,and even hills are not a problem to me now,but as an ex marathon runner back in the eighties i know that regular exersize builds up mental as well as body strenght and things you once thought impossible you take them in your stride, cycling is easy compared to running marathons and of course the fact you enjoy it is a big plus.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Jun 6th 2014, 7:52 PM

    Fair play to you. When my commute went to 11k my back said fook that, and it’s been a road bike ever since. Apparently someone did the Wicklow 200 on a DublinBike last year. Insane.

    6
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    Mute Good News Caravan
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:43 PM

    Old folk really are lazy. It takes an age to coax my grandma out the back garden for burpees and high intensity interval training.

    I take a carrot and stick approach whereby if she doesn’t go she gets her meals taken from her.

    Fair is fair after all

    35
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    Mute Dee4
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    Jun 6th 2014, 5:16 PM

    no reason not to be physically healthy through to your 70′s, use it lose it.

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    Mute Angelic Lestat
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    Jun 6th 2014, 4:57 PM

    I think the next generation or two will be much more physically active as they age.

    18
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    Mute Marjorie Magee
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:55 PM

    Some will, but many will be too fat.

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:46 PM

    OK then.
    No smoking in the car.
    No giant sized drinks.
    Get yer cervix checked
    Embrace a Gay lifestyle
    Don’t drink the water from a private well
    Make eyer mind up, do you want a fry or a bale of briquettes
    Be careful flying with a certain American Airline
    I think that’s it ,now off for a walk and just hope the TV is not nicked while I’m out. :-)

    15
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Jun 6th 2014, 11:42 PM

    Spot on, Hallie, my man:-)

    4
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    Mute Marjorie Magee
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Exercise is the key to a healthy old age. I am in my sixties and do a lot more than the recommended amount. I feel the same as I did 40 years ago and have no stiffness and soreness of joints. But you have to like doing it…..

    13
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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Jun 6th 2014, 11:40 PM

    I’m puzzled. In thread after thread the over sixties are vilified, or at least criticised for consuming health care, for drawing pensions (which they have worked for) and for having paid off their mortgages. Why the sudden interest in extending our lives? I had thought it could only be a couple of years before we received a cyanide pill in the post from Ms Burton and her Department of social protection (try saying that name with a straight face).

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Jun 6th 2014, 6:22 PM

    Nanny state.

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    Mute Marc O'Donoghue
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    Jun 6th 2014, 10:54 PM

    Fewer than half, not less than half.

    3
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