It’s time to give back to people: Coveney

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said it is time to give something back to the people, but warned that any bonuses for families and workers in the budget would be "minor".

The Fine Gael minister said the most important thing in the budget was for the Government to give tax breaks to recession-hit people. There were three choices open to the Cabinet, but it was important people’s expectations were not raised unrealistically, Mr Coveney said in an Irish Examiner interview.

Following suggestions by several ministers that there was room for manoeuvre in October’s budget, Mr Coveney outlined his preferred relief measures for workers.