Cowen leaves door open for harsher December budget

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen appeared to leave the door open last night for a harsher December budget than originally proposed.

Asked if the €3 billion in cutbacks already signalled for the budget would be enough, Mr Cowen said the Government would need “at least” that much.

But like Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Mr Cowen rejected any suggestions that the Government would be pressurised into bringing the budget forward to demonstrate it was managing the country’s debt.