‘Smart alecky tricks’ denied

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has denied the budget amounts to a string of pre-election "smart-alecky tricks".

Mr Noonan launched the defence as he and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin faced down public anger over the budget.

Put under the spotlight during the annual post-budget phone-in on RTÉ radio, Mr Noonan dismissed claims the financial measures represented a PR exercise in the run-up to the next general election.