Every budget serves as both an exercise in financial planning and electorate appeasement simultaneously. As such, with an unprecedented surplus of over €25 billion at hand and an upcoming general election, Budget 2025 will likely reflect the essential question of how to distribute the most money to the highest number of consistent voters without seeming wantonly wasteful?
Indeed, the aspects that yield political gains do not usually align with effective long-term planning or monetary value. This concept is further elaborated in an editorial on the budget which indicates the Government, despite a whopping 50% increment in expenditure, still struggles to meet demands in sectors like housing, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Cliff Taylor, in his column, suggests that the State should exercise caution given its over-dependence on a few large companies, while allocating funds for future-proofing through enhanced public services. According to him, a change in approach is required – Ireland has the financial means, the task lies in utilising it wisely.
Post-budget, there’s a likelihood that everyone will be relatively better off. Jennifer Bray and Cormac McQuinn provide a handy overview of what to expect from Tuesday’s budget, while Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac disassemble it based on population groups. Everything from inheritance tax, the universal social charge, schoolbooks, pensions, VAT to those recurring ‘one-time payments’ – everything is included.
Among other unrelated news, locals are involved in excavation work at a ruined Guinness mansion in Dublin, college dating and the notion of a healthy relationship, Irish lawyer Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh’s London upbringing centered around Irish identity and Lady Gregory’s romantic epic, Grania having a fresh run at Abbey.
Reports of rampant unnecessary public expenditures have been the central narrative in the UK this week. Particular note is given to incidences such as the Leinster House bike shed controversy and the Department of Finance’s security hut affair. Each incident in itself may seem insignificant, but when compounded, they serve as stark reminders of the inefficiencies in our governance system. Martin Wall, this weekend, unveils a gripping tale of the ongoing conflict between the Government and the newly appointed media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, around issues of governance, autonomy, as well as the controversial €2 million budget provision for office furniture.
Our correspondent on Crime and Security, Conor Gallagher, gained unprecedented access into the operations of the Border Management Unit – an entity entrusted with augmented powers and resources to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking via Dublin Airport. As per latest figures, 220 individuals have been booked this year for not producing a passport with 80 ending up behind the bars.
The final stages of the US presidential race are upon us. Our Washington correspondent, Keith Duggan, has been travelling across the country capturing moments from a brutally divided nation. This week saw him in Pennsylvania – a pivotal swing state that holds the power to swing the balance in favour of either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for the presidency. His pieces on the state offer a deeply immersive read into the grandeur and despair engulfing the region. During his trip, a visit to the nearly extinct township of Centralia, slowly devoured by a half-century old fire, revealed a cemetery teeming with Irish settlers – the sole evidence of a once flourishing town.
There’s also an enlightening interview with Irish Barrister Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, who highlighted the plight of South Africa against the Jewish state for allegations of genocide at the esteemed International Court of Justice in the Hague earlier this year. While conversing with Mary Carolan, she divulged the impact her Irish roots have had on her upbringing and career in London, and how her Dublin-born mother’s advice about standing against injustice left an indelible mark on her.
Also worth a mention is Laura Kennedy’s heartfelt piece detailing her journey of getting diagnosed with autism at age 34. With this week’s magazine, section editor Nadine O’Regan has given reins to aspiring student journalists, showcasing a diverse range of articles including a novel assembly of letters from student representatives to national political figures expressing some of the key concerns for their generation.
Kate Henshaw cautions Simon Harris about a possible exodus of students before the impending election. Meanwhile, Tess O’Regan pleads to Micheál Martin for a boost to the funding of tertiary education. Mary-Lou McDonald weathered queries from transgender student Jenny Maguire who’s concerned about the difficulties found by fellow undergraduates in securing residential spaces, the challenge that postgraduates face without maternity benefits, and the uphill struggle that transgender scholars like her experience.
In a curious twist, if you were hoping for advice on becoming a prominent figure on social media, Garron Noone – a comedian, musician, and podcast host – has none. Instead, he captivates Patrick Freyne with a compelling narrative of his personal tribulations, panic episodes, and academic hurdles during his teenage phase. However, he has found gratification in the job he adores.
Lastly, a High Court magistrate was recently scolded by the Court of Appeal for the usage of colloquial language and slang, such as “Mordor”, “gaslighting”, in a legal decision. Our paper commends this curb on conversational language, underscoring the long-held Irish judicial custom of lengthy, ponderous, and redundant rulings that exhibit the grandiloquence of a Wikipedia post. Any potential deviation could precipitate widespread repercussions. The editorial poses a possible scenario: if legal matters were to be made – using a recently trendy term, accessible – in a comprehendible language for the general public, it could lead them to question their hefty legal expenditure.
Editor: Ruadhán Mac Cormaic