Cliff Taylor: Annual budget scrap could be about to get messy and interesting

in a challenging political landscapeMinister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe: Theirs is the key relationship at the heart of budget policy, but if McGrath goes to Brussels, it will be fractured, with unpredictable consequences. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaillof Ireland’s EU commissioner and the seemingly-endless speculation about the date of the general election have the rumour mill turning fast.

But this looks unlikely. To paraphrase the radio ad, when you’re gone as a minister you’re gone. If he chooses McGrath for Brussels, Martin would surely want to appoint a new minister. On a Machiavellian view, he might even feel a new appointee would be more pliable than the often inscrutable McGrath, who in tandem with Donohoe has held the middle ground on the public finances.

What the budget needs to do is to show a focus on the vital social and economic investments that the State needs. There is a difficult balance here for sure, trying to invest more when the economy is at or near full capacity.

Michael-Mcgrath Paschal-Donohoe Cost-Of-Living Housing-Crisis Budget

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