'When I started advising clients we paid 20pc on investment growth, today we are paying 41pc' - Eoin McGee on what he'd like to see in Budget 2026

"With over €150bn sitting on deposit in Irish banks right now, we need to make investing a more attractive option"

"Like Christmas, as you get older, budgets are less exciting because we have less surprises."

"But still each year I look forward to how the cake is going to be sliced, what interests are going to be looked after, how we are going to prepare ourselves financially for the future and what steps will we take to make sure the less well-off and disadvantaged are protected."

Over €150bn currently sits on deposit in Irish banks, representing a substantial pool of idle savings. The large deposit balance signals limited incentives for savers to invest in higher-return assets. As people age, budget outcomes become less surprising, but annual budget decisions still determine allocations of support and financial protections. There is ongoing attention to how budget measures will safeguard interest payments, prepare households for future financial needs, and ensure protections for the less well-off and disadvantaged. Policy adjustments should aim to make investing more attractive while preserving social protections for vulnerable groups.

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