Pat Leahy: Coalition passes important test of common purpose

If the first instinct of politicians is to throw money at a problem, no Irish government has ever thrown so much money at so big a problem.

Tuesday confirmed all the predictions: it was a massive budget. Nearly €18 billion, Paschal Donohoe boasted as he began his speech. Considering that budget day packages in recent years have been worth in and about €3 billion, this was something of a different order entirely.