Barry Cowen hits out at Leo Varadkar's 'posturing' over budget tax cuts 

'You know, I think he should call a halt to the posturing rather than adding to it', he said

Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen Mr Cowen said the Taoiseach 'should be above party partisanship' and follow processes such as the Government’s economic statement, before engagement on the budget. Picture: Brian Lawless

Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for “adding to” controversy within the Coalition, over Fine Gael’s proposed budget tax cuts.

It comes as tensions have increased between the Coalition partners, after Mr Varadkar defended three of his party’s junior ministers who wrote an opinion piece advocating for a full-time worker on a wage of €52,000 to get €1,000 back in tax relief in the next budget.