Ireland set to lose out in billion budget deal

IRELAND was set to lose out on a number of fronts in the multi billion euro EU budget deal being negotiated in Brussels last night.

The talks were deadlocked as Britain refused to accept its rebate would be frozen while France said EU 15 farmers should not fund Romanian and Bulgarian farmers when they join in 2007.

Irish farmers, already facing cuts of 10% in their direct payments over the next six years, looked likely to lose up to 5% more during late night talks.