The first budget of the Simon Harris-Jack Chambers combination, and the second of this Coalition, was presented on Tuesday to a somewhat muted reaction from all sides. Virtually all its main features had been flagged in advance and there were no last-minute surprises to excite supporters or inflame opponents; surprises, after all, can be risky and this Government is highly risk-averse.

The budget speeches were mostly received in polite silence. Government supporters were appreciative, but hardly ecstatic; Opposition TDs were critical but not exactly brimming with righteous fury. The responses flooding into the inboxes of TDs and journalists from the army of interest groups were mostly of the “we welcome ... but not enough was done” variety.

If a budget is an opportunity for a government to provide a statement of what it is about, then this Government is about keeping things going as they are, making incremental improvements, and above all, not annoying anyone.

“Ireland has been an island of economic and political stability,” insisted Harris at the start of his speech, hailing the country’s performance as “phenomenal”.

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