Croke Park deal - Productivity must be achieved

With the start of the new year the honeymoon period for the Government is clearly over.

In the coming days new taxes will begin to bite, and the excuse that the Government inherited the mess will no longer be as readily accepted.

The base rate of VAT has been increased by 2%, which will have enormous knock-on affects. An annual household charge of €100 has been introduced, public transport charges have been risen from 3% to 15%, and third-level registration fees have been increased by €250.