Dispelling any doubt that this was anything other than a pre-election budget, Finance Minister Michael Noonan mentioned property, property taxes and property assets half a dozen times in his speech last Tuesday.

IN ALL my 45 years as a public representative, I have never witnessed until now the mental strain and anxiety amongst the business community as they struggle financially to meet rents, rates, leases and income tax. This mental strain has sent many of them to an early grave.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has staunchly defended the controversial tax relief schemes that will end up costing the Exchequer billions of euro in lost taxes.

By Fionnán Sheahan and Conor Keane