Emergency tax hikes to be outlined by end of month

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has revealed extra taxes and further cutbacks are to be announced by the end of the month.

He said his Government had been spurred into action by yesterday’s Exchequer returns for January and February which were e1.8 billion below last year’s figures.

“At the end of this month we will take whatever steps are necessary... I cannot anticipate the decision, but in my view it will be a combination of revenue raising and expenditure adjustment,” he told the Dáil.