Reply #26: Backing for Irish interest rate cut - Buzek

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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0712/breaking19.html

European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek this morning said the majority of his parliamentary colleagues support a reduction in the interest rate on Ireland's bailout loan.

Mr Buzek said the European Parliament had discussed the issue a number of times. He was speaking after meeting Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton at Government Buildings earlier today.

"We surely support renegotiation of the interest rate and reduction of it. So you could have support from my colleagues, at least a big majority of them from European parliament. It's very important."

Mr Buzek insisted "tremendous goodwill" remained towards Ireland in the European Union. "I feel it," he added. Mr Buzek said he wanted to underline his belief that there was no crisis in the euro zone but rather "some financial instabilities" in certain member states and the problem should be solved by solidarity and loans with interest rates that were not too high.