Hysteria cannot be allowed derail the budget

OVER the years I have grown to despise the month or two leading up to the annual charade that is the budget.

We are subjected to a constant flow of rumour and speculation about what the budget might or might not contain.

Such speculation and rumour is not in the least helpful, and is particularly dangerous and damaging at the moment, given how scared Irish consumers already are. Every rumour that percolates just serves to put another nail in the coffin of the already ailing consumer, but it does provide daily headlines for the media and feeds the daily moan on RTÉ’s Liveline programme.