Budget talks: Fianna Fáil seeks USC cuts

Fianna Fáil is seeking reductions in inheritance tax and USC cuts focused on lower- and middle-income workers in exchange for supporting the budget.

Measures to equalise tax rules for the self-employed, expected to be included in next month’s budget, could cost around €40m.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said there will be no “giveaway budget” and called on all parties not to engage in “auction politics”.