Budget proposals may swing to fairway or bunker for Govt

Some members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party gathered in a pub co-owned by local golfing legend Shane Lowry on Sunday evening ahead of the party's two-day annual think-in in Tullamore. But ministers are now at the point where some proposals for October's Budget are set to land on the fairway while others fall off into the bunker. The Government's decision to extend temporary fuel excise cuts until the end of October at an estimated cost of €407m has left the Coalition with less wriggle room to deliver on all the budgetary promises it has floated in recent months, with the Opposition putting the pressure on to do more to help people with the cost of living. With that in mind, the Taoiseach was emphatic ahead of his party's think-in that there would be no return of universal energy credits. The Taoiseach said the party were 'in unison' ahead of the think-in "The sort of energy credits for everybody, I can't see the capacity being there to do that", said Micheál Martin said. The Coalition is pressing ahead with income tax cuts with Minister for Finance Simon Harris stating the Budget would help people "who get up early every morning and go to work". "We want to help workers who get up early, but also who get up and work nights too," opined Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers. However, Mr Chambers was keen to sound a voice of caution, using the word "modest" to describe next month's tax package on several occasions when speaking to reporters on the fringes of the think-in. "The adjustments will amount to a few hundred euro, depending on your income, which I know, on an annualised basis, will be perceived as modest amongst the public," he said. The problem facing Fianna Fáil and the Government overall is whether a public weary of rising energy and grocery bills will ultimately find what's offered in the budget underwhelming and not be thankful for it. The Taoiseach intimated his party would push to drive down childcare costs while the Minister for Children Norma Foley called for a breakthrough budget on early years and childcare costs. Mr Martin also acknowledged the need to deal with the cost of disability but the specifics in both areas still need to be ironed out. Niall Collins and Jim O'Callaghan among the Fianna Fáil ministers in attendance Fianna Fáil backbenchers too are keen to see their stamp on October's announcement with some feeling Fine Gael had too much their own way last year. "Today at the think-in, us backbench TDs are really prioritising making work pay and making sure that those people out there working will be looked after in this Budget. This budget will have a Fianna Fáil mark," said Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere. The forthcoming Budget and this think-in could also mark significant milestones for Mr Martin after the leadership tensions which engulfed his party after last year's aborted presidential election candidature of Jim Gavin the Coalition's handling of April's fuel protests and to a lesser degree, May's bye-elections. Recent opinion polls have also failed to enthuse party members although their point in the election cycle must be remembered. Both Mr Martin and his supporters were keen to stress how TDs, Senators and MEPs were in unison and behind their leader. Read more: Government rules out universal energy credits in Budget Fianna Fáil 'in unison' ahead of think-in, Taoiseach says Minister 'concerned' over impact of 24/7 online bidding for homes "The entire parliamentary party is in unison, focused on the issues that matter to the people in respect of cost of living, in respect of housing, and in respect of a range of issues that concern them, and people want us to focus on issues that concern them. And I've always been very steadfast in that regard, never taken my focus away from what matters," said the Taoiseach. "Remember this is only our second Budget of five. Remember twenty months ago Micheál Martin led to being the largest party in the Dáil, equal largest party in the Seanad and the largest party in local Government. It's my job as Chief Whip to make sure we are a united party and I believe we are," said Chief Whip Mary Butler, who added that Mr Martin will continue to lead Fianna Fáil for a long time. While there appeared to be no leadership mutterings through today unlike the party's fractious gathering in Cavan in September 2021, some of the agitators against the Fianna Fáil hierarchy were keeping a relatively low profile. On the fringes of the think-in, the Taoiseach appeared in relaxed mood. So too did some of those touted as his potential successor. But those gathered in Tullamore know they may well have to pluck something out of Shane Lowry's famous Claret Jug in next month's Budget to give the party some momentum during the new Dáil term.