This week’s budget has already been analysed to within an inch of its life on these pages and elsewhere, but one aspect that has received little attention is how it has revived the political fortunes of Jack Chambers, the Minister for Public Expenditure.

Almost terminally damaged by the Jim Gavin omnishambles last year which had Fianna Fáil TDs baying for his head on a spike, Chambers – according to soundings with several knowledgeable figures at various levels of the party – has resuscitated his standing and authority within both Fianna Fáil and the Government as a result of his management of the budget process.

While he has not been restored as a leadership contender (not yet, anyway) his stock is higher this weekend than it has been for a long time. Even some Fianna Fáil TDs who would have liked a more generous budget that they could sell in the constituencies tended to begin their assessment of Chambers with: “In fairness to him ...” One backbencher said there was “huge praise” for him in the parliamentary party.

The appreciation of Chambers does not extend to some of his colleagues in the Cabinet with whom he was – they think – unnecessarily brutal during the weeks of budget negotiations. There are complaints of personal brusqueness and high-handedness in meetings. Veterans wistfully recalled Paschal Donohoe’s bedside manner and made favourable comparisons with Dr Chambers. The walkout after eight minutes by Patrick O’Donovan during a hot-tempered bilateral was well documented, but there were others who felt like doing the same thing. Chambers made no friends – well, no new........

© The Irish Times