Noonan rejects claims of a giveaway pre-election budget

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has insisted new EU fiscal rules will prevent the October budget from becoming a “giveaway” pre-election deal.

The opposition parties have claimed that money will be thrown at voters to win them over.

Mr Noonan made the claim as he said his Dáil opponents were becoming “nervous” about what benefits the budget would bring to the country.