Europe’s fiscal champion just can’t win as budget looms

The budget may turn a fiscal position that impresses everybody into a policy announcement pleasing no one

Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Tánaiste Micheál Martin. Mr McGrath previously warned a meeting of his Fianna Fáil party that it will not be possible “to do everything” in the budget. 
Picture: Sasko Lazarov

The budget may succeed in turning a fiscal position that impresses everybody into a policy announcement pleasing no one.

The country is on track to achieve one of the only surpluses in any eurozone member this year and next, driving competing calls on Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe to spend big.