The Department of Finance has indicated its surprise at remarks by the Tanaiste Mary Coughlan – that the Government will be having further talks with Ryanair over the €10 travel tax.

Ryanair has repeatedly called for the tax to be abolished warning its resulted in less numbers travelling.

Earlier today, the Tanaiste seemed to suggest that the tax is still up for discussion -

But the Department  of Finance says Minister Brian Lenihan has no plans to review the tax as it’s already raised 67 million euro for the state.

Stephen McNamara of Ryanair says they were as surprised as anyone by the comments:

“There’s been no discussions, there’s been no contact” he said.

“We have offered and we have written to the Department – we write to the Department every month – and to the Tanaiste and to the Department of Transport and to opposition and we don’t really hear back from anybody”.

“I think Olivia Mitchell is the only one who’s ever come back to us in any way” he added.