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Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland
Finance Minister Michael Noonan
# budget leaks
Noonan "can't rule out future leaks" of confidential information
The minister made the comments while speaking at the University of Limerick, where he also expressed regrets over last week’s Budget leaks.
FINANCE MINISTER MICHAEL Noonan told reporters yesterday that he cannot rule out budget leaks occurring again.
The Irish Times reports that Minister Noonan made the comments at the opening of the Tierney building at the University of Limerick, saying that leaks of information to the Troika from the Irish government could not be ruled out in the future.
Barry Duggan in the Irish Independent said that the Minister expressed regret over last week’s budget leak and explained that the Central Bank governor sends information at the end of each financial quarter to the IMF and European Union authorities.
But there is no more sensitive information to be sent on to Europe before Budget day on 6 December.
The Irish Examiner reports that Minister Noonan added that the government “can’t control what happens” to the documents once they leave its hands.
He said that there were no final decisions on the forthcoming budget – aside from the definite prospect of a VAT increase to 23 per cent.
Minister Noonan also said that the Buget is in Ireland’s hands – not Europe’s.
Budget leaks: €3.5bn Budget for 2013 still won’t meet Troika targets>
Revealed: Government’s leaked plans for Ireland’s austerity Budgets>
