Main points of budget 2014 so far
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has presented his half of Budget 2014 to the Dail.
There were steep hikes in the price of alcohol and cigarettes with 10 cent being added to a pint of beer, cider and a standard measure of spirits, while 50 cent will be added to a bottle of wine.
10 cent will be added to cigarettes from midnight but motorists got off scott free with no changes to petrol or diesel.
Home heating oil and gas prices remain the same.
A new banking levy aimed as raising 150 million euro is to be introduced, savers will be hit with increases in DIRT tax, up from 33 to 41 per cent, while there will be increases too in capital gains and capital acquisitions tax
Despite fears that a gradual increase in VAT would be introduced for the hospitality sector, the 9 per cent rate announced last year is to remain in place.
To further support the travel and tourism sector, Air travel tax is to be reduced to ZERO from April next year provided airlines develop new routes
There's also good news for those planning home renovations in the next two years.
Michael Noonan's unveiled a tax incentive scheme for homeowners who spend between 5000 and 30 thousand euro.
But in an effort to root out the black economy it's only payable to those who use registered and legitimate building contractors:
There were no changes announced to basic tax rates or the Universal social charge
And all payments to the survivors of the Magdalene laundries will be tax exempt