The Week that was

Monday

■ A MASSIVE tax hike on land sales to help pay for the Budget risks making the housing crisis worse, the Government has been warned. Meanwhile, a 30c hike to the minimum wage, to €9.55, will also be divisive with Brexit on the horizon.

As Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe (above) finalised Budget

2018, he was already facing a backlash over plans to target commercial property.

Tuesday

■ BRITAIN and its European Union partners clashed over which side should make the next move to unblock Brexit talks.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May (above) made clear in a speech she delivered to the British parliament that she hoped her EU partners would make proposals at a new round of talks opening the way to the next stage of negotiations, saying: “The ball is in their court.”

Wednesday

■ FINANCE Minister Paschal Donohoe has delivered a Budget that gives small amounts to almost all sectors of society.

However, spending will be paid for by hikes in a series of taxes, which he is gambling on coming in on target.

Thursday

■ A PENSION anomaly that means thousands of women are losing out on payments will not be fixed any time soon – because it would cost too much to do, the Finance Minister admitted.

Paschal Donohoe said it is “bonkers and unbelievable” that women are losing out on pension payments due to a recent change in the rules.

Friday

■ PEOPLE have died by suicide because banks took their tracker mortgages away, forcing them to overpay, a Dáil committee was told.

The trauma suffered by homeowners who had the mortgages taken off them was spelled out in harrowing detail by victims of the scandal.