The reaction of locals in the Thomond Bar on Marlboro Street in Cork to the Budget on Tuesday afternoon mirrored, perhaps, the nation – apathy, if one mixed with a welcome for individual parts of Paschal Donohoe's offerings.
Saying that he "hadn't really thought about" the budget, Ronan Kennedy from Douglas in Cork said: "I will look at it online or on the news late tonight but will I go home and watch it on the TV? That is a no.
“It is a passive budget. I think most people think they are not going to get a whole lot from any budget. If it is level and it stays that way people will be reasonably happy. I don’t think they see this budget as getting a bag of goodies.
Standing behind the counter of a pub that depends heavily on tourists, the publican, Ray Kennedy was more welcoming, heaving a sign of relief when the price of the pint escaped excise duties.
“There is a pile of tourists coming in to the city and we work hard in here because we are a central location. We provide brochures and maps. We even do storage when they are going shopping. We don’t want to kill the golden goose.
“So no increase in excise is the best news for us. Drink just can’t take more. The big thing for me is because Cork depends so much on tourism I was worried about excise on drink and food. It has been tourism that has saved Cork.
Ray Kennedy, who chairs the local branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, said he was not sure how the sugar tax would work, or whether he supported it: "But then when they put the charge on the plastic bag, I thought 'What are they doing?' and now I think it is a brilliant thing."
Sales representative Leo Collins from west Cork was unconvinced that the sugar tax would change the public's sweet tooth: "You know, it's not going to stop me from buying a slushie!"
Brexit
For Scottish tourist Richard Robertson the budget's concentration on housing was nothing new: "I have noticed the housing situation doesn't change much here. People have been talking about housing in Ireland for 40 years," he said.
However, the budget matters little compared with Brexit: “I think we made a mistake with Brexit. I think if they took a vote in Britain again they would change their mind. And it’s all a worry for people here.”
Some Brits have moved to Ireland since the vote, including Londoner, Tyrone Cronin. Donohoe's promised extra €500 a year for families would have little or no impact on people who are struggling to make ends meet, he said.
"I moved to Ireland over two months ago. I have been trying to get a job from Apple as my sister and nephew are here. This €500 they're on about?" he said, "It is nothing."
