Space exploration

Most people don’t know what fiscal space is – but it is already a central issue of this election

Kenny and Noonan launch ‘Long Term Economic Plan’ Pic: Maxpix

As an election issue, fiscal space is not really bums-on-seats territory. For Enda Kenny, it’s just more “economic jargon”. And yet although the vast majority of the electorate (not to mention politicians or journalists) do not understand it, the issue has become one of the central themes of the campaign so far.

Why? Put simply, it’s a trust issue. Fine Gael’s view is that the next government will have €12.1 billion to spend. ...