Minister for Finance, Alan Dukes, described his 1984 budget as "broadly neutral". The Fianna Fáil spokesman for finance, Michael O'Kennedy, saw it as "a dreary non-event".

Tax-free allowances and social welfare benefits were increased. VAT on theatre tickets and other live shows was reduced from 23% to 5%. However, the budget provided for 8% VAT on clothes for those aged over ten, and there were tax hikes on the old reliables of alcohol, tobacco and petrol.

Members of the public give their reactions in this report.

This report from Gary Agnew for 'Today Tonight' was broadcast on 25 January 1984.

'Today Tonight' was a RTÉ current affairs programme with up-to-the-minute coverage of events at home and abroad. 'Today Tonight' was first broadcast on Monday, 6 October, 1980 and ran for 12 years until 1992.

Edited by Joe Mulholland, the original presenters included Barry Cowan, Brian Farrell and Olivia O'Leary. 'Today Tonight' aired from Monday to Thursday on RTÉ 1.

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