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The Irish Times

  • Modest gains for low incomes

    Analysis: We have become accustomed in recent years to budgets with very substantial packages of tax reductions and welfare increases.  p

  • Budget of promise invests and incentivises

    Economic growth may be slower so we must manage resources better but Ireland is still ahead of other EU nations, writes Bertie Ahern

  • Stamp duty reform is gamble, public sector reform is a must

    Brian Cowen is betting that the economy will improve significantly before the electorate return to the polls, writes Mark Hennessy

  • 'Below-trend growth' the mantra of Biffo's snoozathon

    SKETCH: Batten down the hatches, there's trouble on the way. Pensioners, orphans and Ministers first! Brian Cowen put it another way yesterday, now that we've become too fancy to have a mere recession: "As the economy begins a period of below-trend growth, our first priority as a Government is to ensure that the poor and the vulnerable within our society are protected." Well said, Biffo. Priorities are important, particularly where compassion for the marginalised is concerned.

  • Cowen succeeds in balancing act

    COMMENT: Brian Cowen had to balance the need for spending restraint in the face of tightening economic conditions with the commitments of a generous Programme for Government in yesterday's Budget.

  • SPECIAL INTEREST

    what lobby groups want from the budget...

  • Taxpayers, welfare recipients seek relief

    The Budget changes must be evaluated against pay and prices, writes Paul Tansey , Economics Editor

  • Cowen hard put to hold public spending

    Once the growth in public spending has gathered a head of steam, it can prove difficult to control, writes Paul Tansey , Economics Editor

  • Gloomy outlook calls for some Budget bravado

    Business Opinion : For much of this year the Government has been playing down the extent to which problems were emerging in the economy writes John McManus .

  • Tax revenue targets hit by housing slowdown

    Analysis: Tax revenue in 2007 is now expected to fall €1.75 billion short of the target set on budget day, due principally to deteriorating activity levels in the construction sector.

  • What do families want in the Budget?

    While Brian Cowen may not lower the top income rate to 40 per cent, taxpayers may reduce their liability with a range of tax credits, writes Laura Slattery.

  • Bringing carbon cuts home

    Ireland's current carbon emissions are 25 per cent above the target set by the European Union for this State - and they must be reduced by at least 20 or up to 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, depending on whether a global reduction deal is reached over the next two years. Irish emissions are now increasing by 2 per cent a year when they should be falling by 3 or 4 per cent if the target is to be achieved.

  • Budget pledges that helped win election set to be lost

    Inside Politics: While the details of the Budget will remain a closely guarded secret until Wednesday week, one thing is already abundantly clear. Many of Fianna Fáil's key election promises will be abandoned without a backward glance and necessity will be portrayed as virtue.

  • Cowen sets out his stall ahead of FF succession race

    Last Monday, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen gave the Indecon Public Policy Lecture in Dublin, writes Noel Whelan . He used the occasion not only to flag some things he would and would not do in his forthcoming budget, but also to identify what he regards as Ireland's key economic medium-term priorities.

Listen to Paul Tansey's analysis

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