Despite a last minute gamble on Brian Lenihan wearing a red tie for the Budget, the Minister chose to don a dark blue tie to deliver the latest doom and gloom news in the Dail.
The budget speech itself lasted just 47 minutes falling much shorter than the expected 56 minutes or more which was tipped at 2/5. However, true to Paddy Powers odds the word Economic was the first word from a selected list uttered from the Ministers mouth at 4/6.
On a more serious note Lenihans choice of words that the worst is over would seem to suggest that the Government are in it for the long haul prompting Paddy Power to shorten the odds on a 2012 election to 6/4 from 7/4.
Whether or not the worst is actually over remains to be seen but the odds on an emergency Budget in 2010 is just 2/1 with Paddy Power while Minister Lenihan is the 1/2 odds-on favourite to deliver the next Budget speech.
Paddy Power said:
The biggest shock of the day was probably the colour of Brian Lenihans tie, a kick in the teeth for punters who got on the red gamble. Wed better get used to the Ministers dulcet tones as hes 1/2 to deliver the next budget and weve slashed the odds on no election until 2012 to 6/4
Speech lasted just 47 minutes – falling between 45-55mins @ 9/4, First cliché/word/phrase uttered – Economic @ 2/1, Colour of Tie – Blue @ 9/4, Sips of water – The Minister took one sip @ 3/1
Year of Next General Election
66/1 2009, 7/4 2010, 6/4 2011, 6/4 2012
Will there be an emergency budget in 2010?
1/3 No, 2/1 Yes
Who will deliver the Next Budget?
1/2 Brian Lenihan, 3/1 Richard Bruton, 5/1 Joan Burton, 8/1 Dermot Ahern, 10/1 Michael Martin, 18/1 Mary Harney, 20/1 George Lee, 50/1 Eamon Ryan, 66/1 John Gormley, 100/1 Brian Cowen
Will Lenihan be Minister of Finance at the next General Election?
4/6 Yes, 11/10 No
Who will form the Next Irish Government?
2/5 FG/Lab, 9/2 FF/Lab, 6/1 FG/Lab/Green, 10/1 FG Minority Government, 16/1 FF/Green/SF, 20/1 FF/SF, 22/1 FF/Green, 22/1 FG/Lab/SF, 25/1 FG/Green, 28/1 FG Majority Government, 33/1 FF Minority Government, 33/1 Lab/SF/Green, 40/1 FG/SF, 40/1 FG/FF
