FG and Labour boycott Cowen meeting

FINE Gael and Labour yesterday boycotted a private briefing with Finance Minister Brian Cowen over allegations his department breached its confidential system for costing proposals put forward by political parties.

The finance spokesperson of both main opposition parties, Richard Bruton and Joan Burton, had been due to be briefed by Mr Cowen on his proposals for reforming the budgetary and estimates process.

But both refused to attend because they contended a politically-appointed advisor to Mr Cowen seemed to be aware of a submission Labour Party had made to the department asking it to cost a policy proposal.