Government to agree start to budget process this week

The Government will formally agree the start to the budget process this week as pressure mounts to bring forward talks on extending the confidence and supply deal with Fianna Fáil.

Junior finance minister Michael D’Arcy said the country is heading into a “rocky” period and needs a legitimate Government in the coming months with Brexit looming. In that context, negotiations to extend the support pact with Fianna Fáil should begin over the summer, he said.

“That is a question for Fianna Fáil,” he said. “And we’ll see whether Fianna Fáil put the country first.”