The budget week always feels peculiar to me. While my co-workers on the business team prepare to report scrutinising every bit of the Finance Minister’s speech in real-time, studying its effects and implications, I’m generally detached from the frenzy. Due to a scheduling anomaly, my workday is mostly wrapped up when the activities kick off. The responsibility to keep the business desk operational at 6am on Tuesdays falls upon me.
The habitual pre-budget leaks ensure there aren’t many startling revelations. This year, it seemed less of a leak and more like a flowing stream, with the majority of the budget provisions – particularly the ones that people considered important – were already covered on Monday. However, there was still a significant amount of other events unfolding.
I hope you find my compilation of stories from this week intriguing.
1 Although I mentioned there weren’t many surprises, there was one budget proposition that instantly raised eyebrows. It wasn’t the tax on vaping, or the added duty on a cigarette pack, which would traditionally cause an uproar. It was the allotment of €9 million for pouches to aid schools in prohibiting smartphones for students. This appears to be a measure that not many are supporting, especially considering schools are battling to maintain necessary resources. After the overpriced bike shed and the costly security hut in recent weeks, now we’re facing Pouch-gate.
2 This week also saw the continuation of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, and Sally Hayden bore witness to the repercussions in Bekaa, a region once celebrated for its vineyards. It’s difficult to envision where this all concludes. A remark from a school coordinator in west Bekaa resonated with me. She conveyed people’s exhaustion of associating with journalists. “People are merely observing our demise. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to witness these sorts of mass killings.”
This week, Jen Hogan pondered whether to embrace her natural ageing process or succumb to societal pressures to fight wrinkles and grey hair for as long as possible. The expectation to age gracefully can seem as intense as the pressure to not age at all, which poses a dilemma, especially for our younger generation.
It can be quite a challenge to pick perfectly ripened fruit. Oranges that appear sumptuous may unexpectedly yield dry, underwhelming segments. Apples with a juicy exterior might turn out to be lacklustre, whilst pears ripeness seems fleeting, swiftly transitioning from hard to overly soft. With expert advice, one can effectively navigate this challenge, learning to discern what attributes to look out for and those to avoid when selecting fruit.
Conor McGregor’s presence at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday perhaps caught some off guard. However, it is yet another testament to the MMA fighter’s sway in gaining exclusive access. There is speculation as to whether his potential influence could extend to a presidential run, with Johnny Watterson warning against preemptively ruling out the possibility despite McGregor’s possible misunderstanding of the presidency’s scope in Ireland.
Certainly not to be missed is Derek Scally’s account of an unusual occurrence in European news. This concerns former Warsaw police chief Gen Jaroslaw Szymczyk, an alleged grenade launcher that was mistaken for a loudspeaker, and an ensuing explosion that blew a hole in his office floor. Almost two years on, charges have been brought against Szymczyk, who doesn’t appear to comprehend or acknowledge them. The ‘Podcast of the Week’ is also recommended.
Experiencing homework as a child can be a drudge, and it seems, from my own childhood experiences, not much has changed. My children are now dealing with the same burdensome process. It appears as a constant penalty for all parties involved, yet it’s not enjoyed by any. However, new figures confirm what parents have often complained about – overburdening young people with excessive amounts of homework isn’t constructive. A quarter of an hour per subject at secondary school level is the ideal limit. This issue was broached this week by In the News, and it promises to be a very educative discussion worth tuning into, if only to assure yourself that your feelings are understood.
Does homework truly serve a purpose?
Other Notable Updates
Sophie Kinsella’s literature works have been an enjoyable read for me over the years, yet I seemed to have bypassed early information this year regarding her undergoing treatments for a severe brain tumour. In an interview with the New York Times that blends inspiring moments with heartbreaking ones, Elisabeth Egan examines the author’s personal battle upturned into a short novel.
Highly Read Articles
– Crucial elements of Budget 2025: Energy refunds, supplementary welfare gave outs, raised minimum wages, and alterations to taxation.
– Phillip Schofield: Cast Away – discontinued show presenter’s self-centeredness on a desert island is taxing.
– Budget 2025: Doubling children benefit payout; rise in petrol and diesel prices; sequence of personal tax reliefs.
– ‘Shock and disbelief’ grips Co Mayo following the tragic death of two teens in a car crash while headed to a football match.
– Budget 2025 calculator: The budget’s impact on your earnings this year.