Budget prospects: Discipline remains essential

It would be nice to imagine that the good-cop bad-cop routine around yesterday afternoon’s fiscal policy document was no more than the transparent choreography usual at these events. It would be nice to imagine that it is possible — and prudent — to plan for an October budget that reflects the growing sense of optimism around the economy.

How cheering it would be to anticipate a budget that, if not expansionary, at least does not impose yet another round of disheartening cuts to incomes and public services. It is unfortunate, though, that — still — the stronger argument lies with the bad cop, in this instance Finance Minister Michael Noonan. He and his department have argued convincingly that the plan to introduce €2bn in tax rises and spending cuts next year should stand.

Like so many other projects in life, the outcome is determined not so much by the first four fifths of the preparation involved but rather how well, how determinedly, the last fifth of preparation, no matter how hard it is, is completed. Discipline delivers.