Budget 2012 - The real challenges lie ahead

“THE first half was even and the second half was even worse” was how the late Moss Keane described a pretty dour, unentertaining game of rugby.

His analysis may not be a perfect fit for our two-day budget but it resonates perfectly with the grey mood of the country.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan yesterday unveiled his contribution to Budget 2012 and, as was expected, published plans to raise another e1.6 billion in taxes and though income tax rates and bands were untouched — a harvest for another day — every family and business will feel the pinch of Budget 2012.