The Irish Independent's View: Holiday stock-take will do no harm with Budget 2026 looming
Then-taoiseach Simon Harris did not hold on and went for the end of November. The timing did not help his party either way, as Fine Gael slumped to the worst result in its history. The exodus of older ministers retiring and the increase in the number of TDs put a gloss on the numbers. Taoiseach Micheál Martin won the day with a result that would have been considered a disaster in the party's heyday, but is now quite the coup in the post-economic crash environment.
Albeit without the decimated Green Party, a government made up of the Civil War parties was returned to office with the support of Independents. The opposition is left seeking to present a coherency it lacked in the election.
A general election should present an opportunity for a great debate about the future of the country. Invariably, it turns into a competition of contrasting promises that no party will have the mandate to deliver fully upon and a focus on the leaders' personalities.
The negotiations on the Programme for Government are conducted in private, with the parties concerned seeking to persuade the public they got their policies implemented and playing down their losses.
The Government has had an underwhelming start since taking office, with the housing crisis seemingly getting worse and credible solutions being thin on the ground. The Coalition has got a major challenge in the delivery of infrastructure beyond housing, including public transport, roads, water and energy projects. And don't mention the children's hospital.
The summer break presents an opportunity for a pause and to take stock before a busy end of the year, with the first budget of the technically new administration, and the presidential election. Of course, the presidential election is supposed to be above party politics, but it's not.
Budget 2026 is a clear signal of intent from the Government on its economic and social objectives for the next five years. In the absence of the pressure of an impending general election, the Coalition can set out its vision for the running of the country until the end of the decade.
And the Budget is being framed against the context of the impact of the new tariffs being imposed by the US and global instability.
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