The political battle line was well drawn before Budget 2026 was even announced.
Nothing said by Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers today changed that fact.
The contested space will continue to be the cost-of-living crisis.
The Government argues that international economic headwinds mean that tough budgetary choices have to be made.
It's decided to favour targeted measures - for pensioners, carers and people with disability - over universal payments.
The Coalition believes jobs need to be protected, a nod to cutting the VAT rate for the hospitality sector to 9%.
The Government says it's also prioritising capital expenditure with, among other things, the biggest investment in housing in history.
Those priorities were underlined in what the money ministers said.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced he was bringing a smaller tax package to the Dáil to allow for additional spending "for the most vulnerable".
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said public services were being prioritised and there would be 12,500 additional staff "... to deliver services directly to the public".
Opposition parties are adamant that a cost-of-living package was had to be delivered by the Government, given food prices and electricity prices continue to spike.
Sinn Féin accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of being "out of touch" and "disconnected" from ordinary people, 300,000 of whom are in arrears on their electricity bill.
The party's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty accused the Coalition of "pickpocketing the poor" to fund its fiscal plans.
Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash zoned on on the hospitality VAT cut, which will apply to McDonalds as much as small cafes, and the reduction of the VAT rate on the sale of completed apartments.
He contended that the only people who benefit from Budget 2026 were "burger barons and big builders", adding with a flourish that Ronald McDonald was being favoured over Joe and Joan Murphy.
Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan described it as the "McBudget" - a bonanza for property developers and fast-food chain owners.
He told the Dáil that the cost-of-living crisis didn't end when the general election ended, and it was "outrageously unjust" that those struggling would be forgotten now.
The Opposition critique was as expected, as was the Government's dismissal of its analysis.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton branded the Sinn Féin alternative budget as "not responsible".
She stoutly defended the Government as "protecting jobs and looking after those who are the most vulnerable".
Expect more of the same tomorrow.
