We need to stick with €3.1bn budget target

Pre-budget horse-trading between Finance Minister Michael Noonan and his Cabinet colleagues is well underway.

Each department will want to protect its interests as much as possible.

But whether Mr Noonan has to push through €3.1bn or roughly €2.6bn in spending cuts and tax increases will involve a game of brinkmanship that could drive a wedge between the coalition partners.