Dáil reopens - New budget posturing

The new Dáil session is likely to be dominated by the forthcoming budget, which Taoiseach Enda Kenny has described as the most challenging of the Government’s period in office.

The savage cuts and extra taxes that have been flagged provide enormous scope for individual politicians to get personal publicity.

Many of the suggestions may be little more than kites to test the political winds. Some will cause much angst, especially proposed pension cuts and new taxes that may hurt the most vulnerable most.