It was notable that the two themes that have dominated political discourse in recent years – housing and health – were not the dominant themes in the budget. With an election on the horizon, the Government wants to focus attention elsewhere.
Paschal Donohoe has been involved in crafting the last eight budgets. In a major interview, he addresses the risks of fuelling inflation and baking in non-core expenditure, his change of heart on mortgage interest relief and the limits to health spending.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has just unwrapped a €14bn budget package. In an in-depth interview, he explains the political and economic philosophies that underpin it.
We have the money to do something about infrastructure, climate change and ageing, and that much must be celebrated, even as its allocation under a coherent plan is yet to come.
A major new report from the Fiscal Advisory Council has modelled the impact of climate change on our finances and it is not pretty. It is high time our politicians started explaining those costs to people as honestly as possible.
Prolonged high inflation is "incredibly socially divisive and economically very injurious," says Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe ahead of the budget. This theme threads through all others discussed in his interview with The Currency last week.
There is little evidence to suggest that the corporation tax bounty will dry up. But with the budget approaching, it is politically useful for the budgetary ministers to voice their concerns and show their caution.
The Taoiseach’s prediction about a “united Ireland in my lifetime” has the DUP reaching for the "outrage" scripts and the Tories ruffled. Once more, Leo has set their suspicion juices flowing.
Should a couple on €200,000 get a rebate on their children's college fees? It is is a big question and goes to the heart of what we decide being wealthy is.
Noel Browne’s reputation, despite (or perhaps because of) his personal messianic temperament and his occasional tactical naivete, will survive long after that of many of his political contemporaries. Which of us could ask for more?
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