Politics

Michael Brennan: Calm and steady Donohoe zeroes in on crowd-pleasing measures

The Finance Minister delivered plenty of big announcements, but also warned of ‘unforseen risks and challenges’

Donohoe had some grim economic tidings with a forecast that inflation will be at 7 per cent next year while economic growth will drop to 1.25 per cent.

Paschal Donohoe knew that announcing the latest increase in carbon tax would not be popular at a time of high fuel prices.

There were shouts from some of the rural Independent TDs when he gave the details of this in the middle of his budget speech because it would have increased the price of a tank of petrol by €1.28 and the price of a tank of diesel by €1.48

Donohoe, however, had a trick ...