Are first waves of an upcoming election campaign lapping against the shore?

If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the first waves of an upcoming election campaign lapping against the shore.

Despite the Apple tax controversy; Nama; and the lover’s quarrels between Fine Gael and a certain Waterford minister, the amount of money in voters’ pockets remains the water mark for any politicians’ success or failure.

It is why Finance Minister Michael Noonan blamed Fianna Fáil on Monday for his decision to row back on USC cuts, why Housing Minister Simon Coveney yesterday hinted at new deals for first-time property buyers, and why water charges are back in the headlines.