Varadkar denies Fine Gael are being told how to spend the Budget

Leo Varadkar says adding a fiver to the Old Age Pension wasn't a Fianna Fáil idea.

Varadkar denies Fine Gael are being told how to spend the Budget

Leo Varadkar says adding a fiver to the Old Age Pension wasn't a Fianna Fáil idea.

The Social Protection Minister says Fine Gael is still deciding what'll be in the Budget, despite claims that Micheál Martin's party is dictating terms.

The Government says there may be as much as one and a half billion Euro extra to spend this year.

Minister Varadkar has denied that Fine Gael is being told how to spend it: "No I wouldn't accept that.

" First of all nothing is agreed if anything is agreed, I am still in negotation, but, there was a Fine Gael manifesto commitment for a €5 increase in the pension.

"€5 every year for the next five years and obviously I would like to be able to secure that.

"But there are other things I would like to do too. I want to do something for the self-employed, extend more social protection to them and that is my own key priority.

Meanwhile an all-party group of TDs has asked the government to bring forward plans for a tax on vacant sites.

The Dáil's Budgetary Oversight Committee says the measure could be implemented earlier than the current plan of 2019.

The group of 15 TDs says introducing it before then would give land owners an incentive to develop it for housing.

It is also asked for the government to state clearly how it proposes to bridge the €4bn gap created if USC is scrapped entirely.

more courts articles

Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told
Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother

More in this section

DUP Hold Crunch Meeting To Decide On Return To Stormont DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson resigns amid historical allegations
Berlin UKB Hospital Is Among Germany's Most Modern Nearly 10,000 people left waiting on trolleys across country in March
Spring weather Mar 28th 2024 Here's what to expect from weather and travel this Easter weekend
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited