#Coughgate trending as Twitterverse makes light of it all

Twitter users took to the platform not only to make fun of public officials, but also to express relief at tax cuts, ire at the reintroduction of Christmas bonuses for those on social welfare, and to ask what a Knowledge Development Box was.

Brought back the Christmas bonus for the social welfare! Back to wasting money again! Is that what the household charge is for? #Budget15

— JR 🇮🇪 (@JayJayRalph) October 14, 2014

Top trending topics included Budget15, Noonan, Brendan Howlin, Double Irish, Mary Lou, and Knowledge Development Box.

Michael Noonan’s cough garnered a lot of attention. The account Oireachtas Retort had what was probably the best reaction to #Coughgate with “Noonan sounds as if he should knock a few pounds off the bottle of calpol #Budget15”.

And Bryan Dobson tweeted that Noonan started his speech two minutes early, catching RTÉ in an ad break.

Micheal Noonan starts his budget speech two minutes early and catches us in an add break!

— Bryan Dobson (@BryanNewsatOne) October 14, 2014

Double Irish was trending in the UK as well as Ireland, many citizens happy about the closure of the loophole used by companies here to pay less tax.

Comedian Colm Tobin asked his followers what they were getting from Santa, saying he was hoping for a Knowledge Development Box, while Ken Curtin from Cork explained: “For those wondering what a ‘knowledge development box’ is, think of it as a Christmas selection box for techie types #Budget15”

@Pat_MacMurphy summed it up succinctly with: “Alcoholic non smoking farmers with a couple of kids earning 80k with a couple of houses for rent did ok. #Budget15”.

For more Twitter reactions, go to www.irishexaminer.ie

€5 increase on child benefit. Sure aren't they so feckin generous! Sure that's every families problems solved! #Budget15

— Robbie 🇵🇸🇾🇪 (@RobbieH46) October 14, 2014