McCreevy sticks to his guns despite €4bn boost

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy’s €4 billion late revenue boost will not deflect him from the tough policies he will outline this afternoon as he presents his sixth Budget.

The extra revenue revealed yesterday, which included €1.5bn in income tax and €600m in company taxes, will allow the finance minister to say he has confounded many of his critics by ending the year with a small surplus in the State coffers.

But Mr McCreevy will still begin 2003 with an overall €2bn deficit in view.