Government's political promises will cost €6.7bn to implement

The Government’s high- profile political promises will cost at least €6.7bn to implement, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said.

The Fine Gael cabinet member confirmed the price of the deal for power with Independents during a Dáil debate, in which he rejected claims the Government is threatening unions which have not signed up to the Lansdowne Road agreement.

Responding to questions from Fianna Fáil public expenditure spokesman Dara Calleary over the cost connected to the programme for government deal, he said “the overall cost is €6.7bn over a five-year spend”.