Analysis

Ian Guider: We now have big state intervention in almost every facet of the economy

Spending large amounts of money to reduce the inflationary pressure on households and businesses cannot be faulted

Paschal Donohoe, the Finance Minister, preparing for his Budget 2023 speech in which he said that the frequency of unforeseen challenges is increasing and their severity is growing.

While Budget 2023 didn’t involve the levels of intervention we became used to during the pandemic, it was not far off.

A total package running to just over €11 billion was announced, with a series of measures designed to ease the burden of the cost of living crisis.

Spending large amounts of money to reduce the inflationary pressure on households and businesses cannot be faulted. No vested interest group has been left out and we ...