IT’S BEEN A long day of Budget 2015 announcements and most people are in agreement that it’s the best budget in years.

There were few surprises and even fewer causes for complaint but, of course, there were certain points that stood out.

#Budget15 blew up in Ireland on Twitter – everyone wanted to have their say:

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Changes to the USC and income tax were hot topics

That's a rubbish budget Reduces income tax and increases USC. It's a real joke. How about some relief for the people that pay for everything
— Padraig Hayes (@PadraigHayes1) October 14, 2014

Padraig Hayes / Twitter

#budget thousands in USC Charges over the years and they give me a tenner back a month joke of a government
— martin buckley (@martinbuckley99) October 14, 2014

martin buckley / Twitter

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Seems high earners are a bit pissed off by higher USC rate. (Up 1% to 8% for those earning over €70k). #budget15
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) October 14, 2014

Matt Cooper / Twitter

People were pretty sceptical about the child benefit increase

€5 increase on child benefit. Sure aren't they so feckin generous! Sure that's every families problems solved! #Budget15
— Robbie (@RobbieH46) October 14, 2014

Rocket Racoon / Twitter

Child benefit increased by €5 every month in 2015, Really? All this government can spare is the price of an extra happy meal #Budget15
— Evan Moloney (@Evan_Moloney) October 14, 2014

Evan Moloney / Twitter

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There was very little sympathy for smokers about the 40c rise in the price of cigarettes

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So price of cigarettes goes up again in Ireland,I don't smoke but for those that do all I'll say is ha ha ha ha ha #budget2015
— james gaule (@jamesgaule) October 14, 2014

james gaule / Twitter

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And the reintroduction of the Christmas Bonus wasn’t popular at all

Cannot believe the Christmas bonus has returned for unemployed. Why not double children's allowance instead of paying slobs extra in Dec?
— Jessica Fletcher Fan Account🐌 (@FigFletcher) October 14, 2014

Fergus O'Farrell / Twitter

Brought back the Christmas bonus for the social welfare! Back to wasting money again! Is that what the household charge is for? #Budget15
— John Ralph 🇮🇪 (@JayJayRalph) October 14, 2014

John Ralph / Twitter

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Yet again the working class get nothing.....Weres my Christmas bonus
— Kαtιe ♡ (@Katie_Oneill93) October 14, 2014

Kαtιe ♡ / Twitter

This guy summed it all pretty well

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And it had Willie O’Dea feeling poetic

A strange mixture of the mediocre, the mundane and the minuscule #budget15
— Willie O'Dea (@willieodeaLIVE) October 14, 2014

Willie O'Dea / Twitter

But one topic absolutely dominated

Michael Noonan sounds like the Benylin Gremlin - worse in broadcast headphones :-( #Budget15
— Lana O'Connor (@LanaRedFM) October 14, 2014

Lana O'Connor / Twitter

Mad respect to Michael Noonan for making some of the most disgusting phlegmy sounds of all time while delivering #Budget15
— Gary Lyndon (@meat_emoji) October 14, 2014

Gary Lyndon / Twitter

My new band is called Noonan's Phlegmy Cough
— Aoife Barry (@sweetoblivion26) October 14, 2014

Aoife Barry / Twitter

Someone get that man a cough bottle.

Read the rest of our Budget 2015 coverage>

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Cigarettes, child benefit and Michael Noonan's cough - here's how Twitter reacted to the Budget

Changes to the USC and income tax were hot topics

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People were pretty sceptical about the child benefit increase

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We couldn't find this Tweet

There was very little sympathy for smokers about the 40c rise in the price of cigarettes

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We couldn't find this Tweet

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We couldn't find this Tweet

And the reintroduction of the Christmas Bonus wasn’t popular at all

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This guy summed it all pretty well

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We couldn't find this Tweet

And it had Willie O’Dea feeling poetic

But one topic absolutely dominated

Read the rest of our Budget 2015 coverage>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.