EU Finance Ministers censure Ireland

In the first decision of its kind ever made against one of their own members, European Union countries have censured Ireland over the handling of its domestic economy.

Finance ministers from fourteen EU countries approved the reprimand from the European Commission -- with only Ireland itself voting against.

The Irish government has taken advantage of Ireland's economic boom to cut taxes and increase spending in this year's budget.

But Irish inflation is twice as high as the target set for countries in the Euro zone and the EU fears this will endanger the stability of the euro.

The Irish government says inflation is steady and says it has no intention of changing the budget.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service