Lenihan signals savage budget ahead

THE upcoming budget will be even more vicious than feared, Brian Lenihan last night signalled as he braced the nation for cuts of up to €4 billion.

The Finance Minister insisted the previous target of slashing €3bn from Government spending was just a minimum figure and even more fiscal pain could be coming down the line.

Mr Lenihan issued the warning at a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party gathering in Galway which was heavily attacked by the opposition for promising a new emphasis on job creation but only delivering “talk”.