White on collision course with Fine Gael

Labour leader candidate Alex White has put himself on a collision course with his Fine Gael coalition partners after suggesting Ireland can push back its commitment to reducing its debt.

His suggestion has struck Department of Finance officials who yesterday privately warned such a move could result in Ireland being fined by the European Union.

Mr White, in a personal message to Labour’s 5,000 members, said: “I am confident that we will still be able to meet our deficit target for 2015, but, if we miss it by a few months, then so be it.”