Irish Taoiseach warns budget cannot meet all demands as he heads to UN meeting

During a press briefing in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, Taoiseach Micheál Martin cautioned that the Irish budget slated for 6 October cannot address every public need, emphasizing targeted assistance for childcare and disability payments. He avoided revealing specific figures, suggesting that households will need to keep up with inflation and may benefit from income-tax cuts and a public-service pay deal.

Martin said additional measures to ease fuel costs would be considered over the next six to eight months, complementing other budget items. When asked about proposals from Fianna Fáil to raise the Help to Buy tax rebate or abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers, he confirmed no such changes have been discussed at leadership meetings. The Taoiseach also defended New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani against criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging respect for the mayor’s mandate.