Minister for Finance, Ray MacSharry, delivered a tough budget where fiscal rectitude was the phrase of the day. The budget targeted the public service, imposing a pay freeze and an embargo on recruitment. It put an end to a number of housing grants, and travellers who left the country for less than 48 hours were no longer entitled to duty-free goods. A £10 charge for hospital outpatients was also introduced.

Ray MacSharry answers listeners who feel that the budget has been very hard on the PAYE sector, assuring them that he is a PAYE worker himself.

This episode of 'Day by Day' presented by John Bowman offered listeners the opportunity to question the Minister for Finance directly.

The accompanying image shows Ray MacSharry holding the budget briefcase (1987).
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