Tánaiste to call on Europe to ease Ireland's spending restrictions

The Tánaiste Joan Burton is to call on the European Commission to ease the rules that restrict Ireland's budget spending.

Ms Burton will make the comments in a speech in the US tonight.

Strong economic growth forecast for this year means the Government is expecting to have extra cash as it prepares October's budget.

Ms Burton will tell Boston College tonight that the Fine Gael/Labour coalition should be allowed to spend it on jobs, tax cuts, education and infrastructure.

Rules currently in place mean the revenue is earmarked for debt reduction, but the Tánaiste is expected to call on the European Commission to show some "flexibility" on the issue.

However, she will also tell the audience that the Government will not take actions that would put the economy at risk, and there will be no "splurge".