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Updated: 20:07, Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The Department of Finance has denied that a recent increase of €200,000 in the State's so-called 'secret service' has anything to do with a possible ransom paid to secure the release of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki.
In an interview with the Irish Times last week, an Arabic leader in the region claimed that €150,000 was paid to the kidnappers for the women's release.
The Department of Finance has said that no comment can be made on the nature of the budget increase given to the secret service last week.
The secret service's budget increase comes as cuts are being made to most other State departments.
The increase also occurred the same week that the GOAL aid workers were released in Sudan.
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