Decentralisation plan conceals a tax bombshell for middle earners

THEY say that the best fish and chips are wrapped in a quality newspaper. Last week’s Budget was like a particularly greasy cod and chips wrapped in a glossy magazine (with a large emphasis on the cod).

Most people saw through it immediately, as an entirely cynical exercise, essentially a bit of straightforward bookkeeping underpinned by no political philosophy at all. The central purpose of the Budget in fact its only purpose was to keep the books balanced in Minister McCreevy's terms.

If he gave with one hand, he took back with the other. Had he not decided to include the so-called decentralisation package, his speech would have taken about 20 minutes to deliver and would have been greeted with howls of derision when he sat down.