2012 Irish budget

[1] The budget was preceded by a rare televised national address by a Taoiseach when Enda Kenny spoke to the country two days beforehand.

[2] This was only the sixth time that a Taoiseach has addressed the nation, reflecting the gravity of the Irish economic condition, in what Kenny stressed were "exceptional" circumstances.

[3] The following day, Thomas Pringle TD replied on television in an address on behalf of the opposition technical group of TDs in Dáil Éireann.

[2][5][6] The Bill proposing the introduction of a "household charge" passed by 90 to 47 votes in the Dáil late on 14 December 2011.

The following day, nine TDs helped launch a nationwide campaign against the household charge.