Enda Kenny has told reporters in Washington that the government needs to be prudent and build up cash reserves to avoid any crash in future.

Before his trip to the White House tomorrow, today the Taoiseach is meeting with business leaders and trying to drum up more investment in Ireland.

But speaking to reporters after one such meeting, the Taoiseach was asked about the government’s campaign to ease the EU limits on spending. MR Kenny said people should not expect the Government to flash the cash.

"Let me be clear - the budget in October is not going to be one where there is a whole series of giveaways. We don't have the capacity to do that," he said.

"It will be slow and measured in terms of the progress we've made, with a very clear understanding that we are not going back to the days of what caused the problem - boom and bust politics."

The Taoiseach also said he would not be taking a hard line trying to promote a new policy on US immigration.

He said the softly-softly approach is the better way to achieve results for the undocumented Irish.