Paschal Donohoe on spending v saving, RTÉ's future and Fine Gael's vigour

<p>October 10th is Budget Day, so it is the time of the year for politicians and lobbyists to make their cases for extra spending and tax cuts in 2024.</p><br><p>It will be a year when Ireland is forecast to run a surplus of over €10 billion, leaving lots of room to manoeuvre, and plenty of decisions in the hands of Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe.</p><br><p>On today's podcast Mr Donohoe joins Hugh and Pat to talk about Budget 2024. </p><br><p>Of specific measures, the Minister gives little away. But he does provide an insight into his thinking about the balancing act that must be struck. </p><br><p>They also discuss the risk posed to stability by <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/09/12/qa-is-the-era-of-runaway-corporate-tax-receipts-over/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unpredictable corporate tax receipts</a>, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/media/2023/09/13/rte-working-to-cut-costs-bakhurst-to-tell-oireachtas-media-committee-as-broadcaster-freezes-recruitment/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the future for RTÉ </a>and whether Fine Gael still has something to offer in government beyond the next election.</p><br><p>And Mr Donohoe takes the opportunity to criticise <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/09/02/pat-leahy-what-is-this-government-actually-for-beyond-not-being-sinn-fein/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pat's argument that the Government is short on ideas. </a></p><p><br></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>