'I can't live on words...'

MINISTERS Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers were repeatedly interrupted by angry callers on a Budget phone-in show yesterday, as one woman said: "I can't live on words".

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

Members of the public weren't afraid to speak their mind on RTE Radio One's Claire Byrne Show yesterday as they were allowed to quiz the money ministers following Budget 2026.

The first caller, Marie, asked the Finance Minister and Public Expenditure Minister what the budget has done for the "squeezed middle class".

She lives with her husband, daughter, her daughter's partner and her two grandchildren, one of whom has additional needs, and said there is nothing for them in the budget.

Minister Donohoe responded by saying everyone in her household is working and that it's his priority to 'still have an economy, and a society, in which we have everybody at work'.

Mr Chambers echoed that sentiment when answering small business owner Gerry, who asked what has been done for "middle Ireland".

He said: "What's crucial to your business is that you continue to have demand for the service or the business that you provide for your customers.

"And critical to that is to have an economy which is continuing to grow.

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