An inane budgetary ideology

Having perused Noonan’s Budget speech, it is my considered opinion it is solely about Mr Noonan, Fine Gael and the next election; not one iota about the future of the nation.

No visionary words, let alone words of encouragement for young people. The inane ideology of a “Future Fund” (this was tried here in Australia, and naturally failed), is obsolete, as no government can predict the financial future.

The best place for investment in any nation is universities – of which Ireland is fortunate to have many good institutions – this is where “the future fund” actually exists on a daily basis. Research and development is a constant necessity, as are social science and the humanities.

The former indeed creates wealth, the latter creates well-being. Both necessities for mankind to exist.

This is the sixth Budget in a row penned by a FG Finance Minister: yet it is merely the first one rehashed, as the sole group in Ireland who will really benefit most from it are the TDs and Senators with their grotesque (and immediate) pay increase, whilst pensioners have a bizarre wait for their measly €5.

For the sixth year in a row, Fine Gael have underlined that the economy is their sole concern; human beings appear to be totally beyond their ken, let alone have a place in their remit. Declan Foley Berwick, Australia