Lenihan insists he has Taoiseach’s full support

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has today insisted that he has the full support of the Taoiseach despite media reports of a rift between the two men over how to cut public spending.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Mr Lenihan said he and Brian Cowen were working very closely together on the future welfare of the country.

He denied there was any problem between himself and the Taoiseach.