Irish finance minister wants to cut income tax soon

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's finance minister said that he would cut income tax for middle-income earners as soon as he can, in a hint at what his policy may look like once the bailed-out country's austerity drive comes to an end.

Ireland, which hopes to exit its EU/IMF bailout later this year, has had to introduce round after round of spending cuts and tax rises since its financial crisis hit in 2008 and faces at least two more austerity budgets between now and 2015.