The symbolism of this is pretty dire. These are still times for bitter melancholy in Ireland and many a Dubliner has rarely felt as republican as he does now that the state’s sovereignty* is, shall we say, not what once it was. This, a friend says, is just another tale of life “under the occupation”:
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has rejected reports that details of next month’s Budget, including a planned hike in the VAT rate, were shown to German officials yesterday.
Mr Kenny met chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin yesterday after which reports emerged that the Irish Government was planning raise the top rate of VAT by 2 per cent to 23 per cent.
According to documents presented to a Bundestag budget committee, the measure would generate an additional €670 million for the Government.
Opposition parties rounded on the Government today accusing it a “staggering breach of faith”, with suggestions that the German chancellor was now “pulling the strings”.
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