Cowen: Finance Bill cannot be passed by next Friday

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said the priority of Government is to pass the Finance Bill, but that this could not be achieved in the timescale demanded by the Labour Party (ie by next Friday).

The passage of the Bill will be discussed tomorrow by Brian Lenihan and the other parties' finance spokespeople, Mr Cowen said, following the withdrawal from Government by the Green Party.