Memorable Budgets - 1976, "Minister for Hardship"

The Harshest Budget since the War

The budget introduced by Minister for Finance Richie Ryan in 1976 was described as the toughest since the Second World War. The many casualties included petrol, the price of which rose by 10p a gallon, and beer, which rose by 5p a pint. VAT was raised from 6.75% to 10%.

RTÉ News gives listeners the details of the 1976 budget and tells them what Richie Ryan hopes to achieve.

Virtually Nothing to Either Help Inflation or to Help Unemployment

Martin O'Donoghue, Associate Professor of Economics at TCD, gives his analysis and recalls some tough budgets from the past.

"Minister for Hardship"

RTÉ's "Hall's Pictorial Weekly" has an entertainingly satirical take on the Richie Ryan budget. Watch this broadcast on behalf of the "Minister for Hardship".