Howlin urges realism as budget nears

Cabinet ministers have been warned to abandon "unrealistic" budget plans and settle for what is available.

With less than three weeks to go before the economic decisions for the coming year are unveiled, the Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, has told colleagues to “start settling” after cautioning them that demands were too big.

As a raft of bilateral meetings begin between Mr Howlin and his cabinet colleagues to hammer out the final details of the budget, he “reminded them to be realistic”, a spokesman said.