DUBLIN, March 31 (Reuters) - The sharp fall in Ireland's tax receipts that became evident in the first two months of the year continued into March, Prime Minister Brian Cowen said on Tuesday, ahead of the release of exchequer data due on Thursday.
"Indications are that the decline in tax receipts evident in January and February has continued into March," Cowen told parliament.
The deterioration in public finances in January and February prompted the government's decision to present an emergency budget on April 7.
(Reporting by Andras Gergely)