Paul Hosford: Little fanfare across the board for Budget 2026's offerings 

The feeling afterwards from TDs was one of underwhelm

Minister for public expenditure Jack Chambers and minister for finance Paschal Donohoe outside Government Buildings before their budget speeches. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

That it took some 73 minutes for the first proper "hear, hear" of the budget speeches, probably says it all.

Budget 2026 was commended to the house to a round of applause, but it was not the kind of rapturous applause when last year's pre-election bonanza was announced.