Michael Noonan quizzed over €900m ‘black hole’

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has been called on to explain a €900m “black hole” in his economic forecasts for the lifetime of the next government.

Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath has said it is “simply ridiculous” that included in Mr Noonan’s plan to abolish the universal social charge (USC), is €250m that will not happen until 2022, after the lifetime of the next government.

Mr McGrath was scathing in his assessment of Fine Gael’s economic plan, which has stumbled in recent days, and accused Mr Noonan of “scrambling” to make their numbers add up.