Noonan accuses Taoiseach of rejecting Budget consensus proposal

Fine Gael Finance Spokesman Michael Noonan has today accused the Taoiseach of "throwing a bucket of cold water" over the Green Party's proposals for all-party consensus on the upcoming Budget.

Mr Noonan made the remarks after emerging from a meeting with officials at the Department of Finance, who have been briefing Opposition parties on the state of the public finances.

He said he is satisfied the department will not hold any information back, allowing Fine Gael to formulate an alternative Budget.

He was more downbeat on any prospects for agreeing an all-party consensus on the Budget, however.

“It was the Taoiseach who threw the bucket of cold water over things, and yesterday he made it very clear that he didn’t see a future in having discussions with the parties,” said Mr Noonan.

“In the end of the day, as he put it, the Government is the Government, they have a majority and they are going to exercise their majority to bring the Budget in.”