Budget 2020
What they said
“This is a Budget that has been developed in the shadow of Brexit.”
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe only made it 98 words into his 70 minute-long speech before using the ‘B’ word.
“Few, Ceann Comhairle, expected this Dáil to pass a third Budget. Those hardy few predicting a fourth would hardly have predicted one such as this. Yet, here we are. We have shown that the centre of Irish politics can not only hold, but adapt and change.”
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe concluding his speech by recognising efforts across the house.
“The judgment of our leader Micheál Martin last December that there should be no election in 2019 has been absolutely vindicated by the events since.”
Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson Michael McGrath uses Brexit
to justify the party facilitating a fourth Budget.
“Over the past several years Minister Shane Ross has been a one-man policy Cape Canaveral, firing rockets across all departments. Except of course his own. The ‘Minister for Photobombing’ has been missing in action in his own portfolio.”
Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen.
“The parameters of this Budget werenotsetby Brexit,butby you and your Government.”
The Brexit excuse doesn’t wash with Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty.
“Thank the Lord this is the last Budget of this Government because I don’t think anyone, and even the Government side, could have another one. We’re tinkering towards the end.”
Labour TD Alan Kelly looking forward to the next election.