Minister Michael Noonan expects budget flexibility

Finance Minister Michael Noonan expects that the European Commission will hand him the type of financial flexibility that has been afforded to other countries in order for him to reshape the upcoming budget.

Earlier this week, Mr Noonan argued that concessions that afforded France an additional two years to reduce its deficit, having failed to do so already, risk recreating a two-tier Europe if similar flexibility is not afforded to smaller nations.

Mr Noonan insisted that he was not looking to break EU rules but was seeking greater spending scope, claiming that he did not want to be derided by the Irish electorate.