The Last Post

Matt Cooper: Budget packs a political punch that could change the fortunes of the parties in power

While the government might get a boost in the polls, there’s still so much that can go wrong – mostly arising from circumstances outside its control

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance and Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure: delivered a politically astute budget. Picture: Fergal Phillips

There’s fight left in this government yet. It doesn’t seem to be accepting it as inevitable that Sinn Féin will lead the next government, an assumption many seem to be making more than two years before the next election is due.

Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath delivered a politically astute budget last Tuesday. The absence of major controversy over its contents was a good start: the issue of a levy on building bricks is not ...