Minister for Finance corrects misleading statement from Deputy Burton

In response to a charge from Deputy Joan Burton, the Minister for Finance said:

"Deputy Burton has made the accusation that Eurostat corrected the Government's General Government Deficit. That is a political charge, unhelpful to the economy and above all else incorrect.

The reclassification of the payment to Anglo Irish Bank followed from the Minister's Statement on Banking on 30th March last. The Department of Finance informed Eurostat of how to treat the payments and Eurostat agreed. There is no basis whatsoever to these accusations, as the figures have been clearly set out in the Exchequer Statement since last July."