Coalition must tread carefully to budget day

With one budgetary U-turn already taken, the road to the budget is paved with potential landmines for ministers who don’t seem on the same bus, says Gerard Howlin

HANGING together, as distinct from hanging separately, requires skill. Choreography on the gallows takes as much poise and more gumption than it does on the catwalk. Hanging together, however, is not something this Government is good at. Not that there is any chance of a break-up. Talk of an early election was just loose talk caused by, well, loose talk.

Brian Hayes, the junior finance minister, had some serious points to make last weekend on the entitlements of older people. His point is that age-based benefits given regardless of income ultimately cost others far less able to bear the brunt of cuts. The aftermath of the stampede of the Grey Hussars down Kildare St against the removal of the over-70s medical card is a state of permanent political terror of a repetition. Were a government to be so bold and so brave as to take on the grey brigade it would need to plan its course carefully.