MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT Leo Varadkar has admitted that leaks about the forthcoming budget may have had a negative impact on consumer confidence.

Speaking in the Dáil last night in response to questions from Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea, Varadkar said last month’s consumer confidence was the highest in five years but it declined recently.

“Within a month that had fallen by ten points, probably due to Ministers and others talking about child benefits, property taxes and all sorts of things,” he said.

O’Dea said Varadkar’s comment was “a startling admission for a senior Minister to make”.

“Over recent months we have consistently warned of the damage that is being done to the economy by Ministers jockeying for position and leaking budget proposals,” he said. “Now we see a senior Minister acknowledge the point and link the comments of his colleagues to a measured collapse in confidence.”

The Fianna Fáil TD said Varadkar should relay his concerns to the Taoiseach and to his colleagues in the Cabinet.

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