Gilmore claims no Labour minister has engaged in budget kite-flying

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he was “absolutely satisfied that no Labour minister has engaged in kite-flying” ahead of December’s budget.

But the Labour leader said he agreed “totally” with Leo Varadkar, the transport minister, that raising fears among people about possible cuts should be stopped.

Meanwhile, Labour’s Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, criticised a junior minister in his party, Alan Kelly, over suggestions made at the weekend that the State subsidy to fee-paying schools is likely to be cut.