The Finance Minister says there is no prospect at all of an early election.

Michael Noonan was responding to claims from some backbenchers who believed an early election might still be likely in the wake of today's Budget.

The minister last week said there were "two windows" for an election, which could be held either before or after Christmas.

However this evening Michael Noonan said today's announcements would not be the trigger for an early vote:

Enda Kenny claimed he has been 'very consistent' on the matter in an interview on Sunday.

"I haven't changed my mind," he said. "My intention is to have the General Election in Spring of 2016, and I see no reason to change that".

The comments came amid speculation that the subject of an election date had put considerable strain on relations between Fine Gael and the Labour party - who oppose a pre-Christmas vote.