Politics

Elaine Byrne: Fine Gael in danger of becoming the cuckoo in the nest with budget kites

The other government parties have thrown their hands up at what is viewed as an early play by junior ministers to take credit for popular measures in the upcoming budget

Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Martin last week described Fine Gael’s style of opinion-piece policymaking as ‘unhelpful’. Picture: PA

There is a quirky tradition that finds its way into Irish newspapers each year. This compulsion by the Irish people to announce when they heard the first cuckoo of the year.

We should add another unique Irish custom to the list. Last Monday, the first big-budget kite of the year was flown – some two months before the Summer Economic Statement and over four months out from budget day itself. Is this a record?

A ...