Recovery programme - Posturing in place of leadership

ANY body who expected an FDR or a JFK moment, or even an Obama yes-we-can few seconds, at Dublin Castle yesterday would have been disappointed.

What was needed was a hint of inspirational thinking, more than a hint of determination and as much assurance as is possible in these challenging times.

What we got was a Christmas-cracker package of tax breaks and the promise of a series of venture capital funds worth a total of €500 million to “lure innovative industries to... boost research and development”.