BUDGET 2016: Back to the future with giveaway budget

This is a giveaway budget. In substance and delivery, if not tone, it is a throwback to the halcyon days of that other great smoke and mirrors merchant, Charlie McCreevy, writes Michael Clifford

In grown-up countries the content of the annual budget is discussed in parliamentary forums before delivery. In this country, where parliament is largely redundant, it’s all just leaked to the media in advance of the big day.

As a result there was precious little that was new in today’s set-piece speeches from Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin. The public had read all about it since last weekend. Cuts to the USC, hikes to child benefit, a little something for those at the bottom, a lot to smile about for the so-called “squeezed middle”.