Despite hopeful budget, it’s likely a watery grave for the Government

DEAR TAOISEACH, Do you know the old joke about the cruise ship magician whose act was always being ruined by the clever parrot?

Every time the magician did a trick, the parrot would squawk “it’s up his sleeve”, or “it’s behind his back”.

Eventually, as you might imagine, the magician got sick of the parrot, and wanted to kill it.