Mr Declan Bannon, insurance official, married with three children.
Pre Budget concerns. People are working harder and longer for marginal increases in pay. Mortgage relief is being whittled away, so what the Government gives with one hand it takes away with the other.
The tax rates are far too high, and should be reduced. They should widen the bands and reduce the 48 per cent rate by at least two points. The PRSI rate should be reduced too. The Government should also cut back on the public sector, which is getting out of control.
Instant reaction: OK, he reduced tax by lp, PRSI by one point and increased the threshold, all of which is a step in the right direction, but it certainly isn't radical tax reform.
I don't think it's an election Budget, and I don't think it will make me vote for him!
I am trying to work it out - I'll gain on the reductions, but I lose on the mortgage relief being reduced, and the VHI relief being cut, and the two and a half pence on petrol will get me too. I'd say I'm marginally better off.
I'm slightly disappointed. I think he could have done more. I suppose he's done a good enough job distributing the money that he had - and I'm glad to see the social welfare increases and that they appear to be addressing the tax wedge for the lower paid but given that there's so much extra money there I feel he could have done more.