In other news, the Examiner reports that employers need to carefully manage how they implement pensions auto-enrolment and mandatory retirement age regulations to avoid creating workplace divisions. 

"No Irish government in the history of the State has been able to kick off an election campaign with a giveaway budget on the scale unveiled on Tuesday by Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe": Elsewhere, budget analysis and commentary has yielded to rising speculation on an election date. I think it's going to be 22nd November myself. Much is made of the budget baubles doled out this week to an electorate the government parties hope will be feeling grateful...so timing really is everything.

Mick Heaney's radio review is one of my favourite weekly columns. His review of Budget week radio is well worth a read: "While State coffers are flush with corporate tax, spraying money in all directions is an easier option than tedious long-term planning. Danny McCoy of the employers’ group Ibec suggests to Cuddihy that the budget lacks coherence: he compares the proposed spending to a monsoon, but one that “doesn’t seem to be getting it in the right buckets”.

Zen

There's been an abundance of excitement in response to new music from The Cure. Alone, the opening track to their first album in 16 years, emerged a few days ago. The music and the (slow) visuals conspire to something greater than the sum of its parts and wins the Justin Hawkins seal of approval.

Have a great weekend.

Niall