Cowen Budget menu cooks up very few surprises

Finance Minister Brian Cowen stuck close to the predicted script despite the fanfare of the biggest-ever giveaway Budget, writes Political Editor Harry McGee.

IN THE spirit of Delia Smith or Darina Allen, here’s a bit of Budget analysis I prepared earlier. It was whipped up a full 24 hours before Brian Cowen’s Budget speech. But you will have to agree it remains as fresh as the recipe for economic prosperity cooked up by Cowen in the Dáil yesterday afternoon.

“Social welfare increases will be over €1 billion for the first time, with generous measures. He will do for childcare and older people what he did for disability last year, with generous packages in both areas. However, true to his generally cautious approach, they will not go as far as some want.