Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted his thinking on the timing of a general election in Ireland has not changed as he rebuffed claims his Government had served up a pre-poll giveaway Budget.The Budget outlined on Tuesday included 8.3 billion euros in tax changes and new spending measures and was accompanied by a set of cost-of-living supports worth 2.2 billion euros.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted his thinking on the timing of a general election in Ireland has not changed as he rebuffed claims his Government had served up a pre-poll giveaway Budget.The Budget outlined on Tuesday included 8.3 billion euros in tax changes and new spending measures and was accompanied by a set of cost-of-living supports worth 2.2 billion euros.