Taoiseach’s office points finger at finance department over IMF briefing

THE blame game within Government over last week’s botched communications effort has intensified after the Taoiseach’s spokesman said Brian Lenihan’s department was responsible for handling the issue.

Government press secretary Eoghan Ó Neachtain said the message regarding the status of discussions with the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund was orchestrated by the Department of Finance.

He said officials at this department were responsible for preparing the briefing notes and the Government Information Service merely relayed the communications it received.