Lenihan tries to clarify relief confusion

UNDER-fire Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has moved to clarify confusion for the thousands of mortgage holders who will have tax relief on their interest payments suspended from today.

Backbenchers were last night angry over the latest budget blunder while the Dáil descended into farce with Mr Linehan accused of allowing “total confusion” to reign hours before the measure was due to come into effect.

Labour’s spokeswoman on finance, Joan Burton, said the minister had made “an absolute dog’s breakfast” of the withdrawal of mortgage interest relief announced in last month’s budget.