Gilmore hopes for budget deal

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore says he is optimistic a “good conclusion” will be reached to European…

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore says he is optimistic a “good conclusion” will be reached to European Union budget discussions.

Mr Gilmore discussed the seven-year EU budgetary plan with Alain Lamassoure MEP in Dublin yesterday.

“We discussed the timetable we will be working to and the broad parameters within which we will be conducting discussions. I’m optimistic,” he said.

Mr Lamassoure said the negotiations would be “very important and very delicate” and expressed admiration for the policies of the Irish Government; budget consolidation was “the order of the day”, he added.

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times