McGrath: Backbenchers likely to pass Budget

Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has said he does not foresee a situation where a group of Fianna Fáil backbenchers vote against the Budget.

Deputy McGrath, who was expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party for abstaining from voting on the Stag Hunting Bill, said backbenchers are holding meetings with the Finance Minister ahead of the Budget to thrash out any concerns.

He said however that he can't see any likelihood of them joining forces to vote down the stringent measures.

Deputy McGrath said however that once the Budget is out of the way, the focus will move to a general election.

"I think there will be an election in March or April," he said, adding that for now the focus should be on passing the Budget in order to restore stability in the eyes of the international financial community and bring down the cost of Ireland's borrowing.