FG accuses McCreevy of underhand accounting

Fine Gael has accused Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy of using “three-card trick” accounting practices after the Eurostat agency ruled today that profit made due to the euro changeover cannot be used to improve the public finances.

The Government was in line for a €600m windfall due to unreturned Irish currency, but Eurostat has ruled that this money cannot be used to offset a budget deficit.