Trying to find anyone discomfited by Charlie McCreevy's fourth Budget was an exercise in futility this week. That is not to say he got it all right. There remain major questions over the impact of the give-away on the economy in general - a matter on which the jury is likely to stay out for some time yet.

Still, those picking at the various measures were reduced to doing just that - picking. The Minister could have done a bit more here, a bit there, but essentially everyone gains to a lesser or greater degree in the package.

And that is how it should be with the surplus he is nursing and the political requirement to disburse it regardless of the economic impact.

One of the few discordant notes came from ISME, the small business lobby group. Eager to let the Minister know how he could improve its lot, ISME was quick to lash out at the plan to extend maternity leave.

It claims the move to allow mothers spend more time with their new-born babies runs counter to efforts to encourage more women into the workforce to tackle our labour crisis. Come on guys, have a heart.