The Coalition’s nakedly blatant electioneering as they lapped it up in Lissadell proves they are no different from the last shower and, sadly, their chicken, opportunist decisions will as ever come home to wreck the roost, writes Shaun Connolly

Ireland will be “very rich in resources” in four years time and have much greater scope for spending in the economy, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that the Coalition will not spend more than €1.5bn on budget measures, including tax cuts, in October’s budget.