Noonan denies budget framed for election

The next three budgets will be focused on the ‘squeezed middle’ — families earning between €33,000 and €70,000 — if Fine Gael and Labour get returned to office at the next general election.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan denied that Budget 2015 was designed for electoral purposes but indicated that his strategy to change the income tax system needs three years to implement.

Yesterday’s budget marked “the first instalment” of that reform, which will see “most of the benefits” directed at middle-income families, he said.