Spending pledge broken - Ahern

THE Government had driven a coach and four through firm commitments it had made to keep a tight rein on spending, the Fianna …

THE Government had driven a coach and four through firm commitments it had made to keep a tight rein on spending, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said last night. This sent the wrong signals to major investors, upset the strict fiscal controls demanded by Maastricht and could create future problems.

The Government would be spending over £400 million more than it had promised next year, he said.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter