It’s here, it’s finally here! Well, nearly… Only a few more sleeps to go until Budget 2026 – can you believe it’s been a year already? I wrote my list weeks ago (I’m hoping for a Tonka Truck but with the price of fuel these days, I don’t know how I’m going to run it). It’s not even Budget Day itself that’s so exciting. For me, it’s the build-up. The endless columns; the ceaseless, tireless reams of wasted words and useless speculation – oh, how I just adore them!
But this year I’ve made a resolution. For too long the press and political class have conspired together to confuse the public. After all, if the public understood everything that politicians said or did, what use would a journalist be? I have decided, however, to let confusion reign no more! At our last Politician & Press Dinner Date, I broke rank and announced I would no longer be the establishment’s lackey, merely repeating carefully constructed talking points for the benefit of Leinster House. No. I will be a voice for the people. Perhaps even a hero…
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Nobody truly understands the Irish Government’s Budget. First, it is preceded by months of gloomy conjecture before the ultimate announcement leaves the public befuddled at confusing lists of figures, percentages, and half-hearted promises for more concessions to come (when exactly? Nobody knows). Finally, a familiar pronouncement is made by the media: ‘this is all well and good, but it’s not about tax bands and credits at the end of the day, it’s about what’s left in the bank account of your average Joe on the street’. Then, we collectively shrug and forget all about it until the next year rolls around.
Full column in this week’s Print & Digital Edition.
