Lobby groups:While many of the country's special interest groups broadly welcomed the Budget, the overall consensus is that Mr Cowen could have been much more expansive with his first Budget.
Chief Executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland(CCI) John Dunne welcomed the non-inflationary nature of the budget and its social inclusion elements but criticised the Government for its silence on pressing fiscal issues such as public sector pay, Aer Lingus funding, public sector benchmarking, and encouraging R&D.
Describing the current rate of excise on alcohol as "exorbitant", Mr Seamus O'Donoghue, President of the Vitners Federation of Irelandcalled for it to be brought into line with other EU countries.
"It would appear that this Government is unable to understand the levels of tax imposed on drink in Ireland and as a result competitiveness goes out the window," said Mr O'Donoghue.
"Ireland has the second highest tax on wine and beer in the EU and fifth highest tax on spirits."
The Irish Hotels Federation(IHF) welcomed the provisions for the increase in capital investment in transport and in personal tax credits, but said it is disappointed that a blatant anomaly in the treatment of VAT on business expenditure in hotels and restaurants was not addressed.
While the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers(IPAV) broadly welcomed the budget they have asked whether stamp duty in the greater Dublin area needs to be addressed seperately.
"IPAV also regrets that, given the considerable resources available to the Government, the Minister did not see fit to widen all the stamp duty bands for owner occupiers and investors alike," said IPAV Chief Executive, Mr Liam O'Donnell.
"The current imposition of a penal rate of 9% duty on houses over €635,000 makes it very difficult for people in the greater Dublin area to purchase even modest homes in many areas."
Christian Aidsaid the Budget broke the Government's latest promise on overseas aid. The aid agency said that the Government's overseas aid budget will not reach 0.5 per cent of GNP in 2007, as promised by the Minister of Finance when he made his Estimates speech less than two weeks ago.
"It took the government fours years to break their promise to reach the UN aid target of 0.7 per cent by 2007," said Mr Oisin Coghlan, Christian Aid policy officer.
"It's only taken then two weeks to break their new promise to reach a reduced level of 0.5 per cent of GNP. To paraphrase Wilde, to break one promise is unfortunate, to break two seems like carelessness."
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland(ICAI) the Budget as "giving a little to a lot of people" and said it was "particularly conservative" in fiscal terms.
"We welcome the fact that the Minister has been able to deploy additional resources in the areas of income tax relief and additional social spending without penalising enterprise and the business community," said ICAI Chief Executive, Pat Costello.
"However, there will be considerable disappointment at the Minister's decision not to increase the standard rate band by more in light of no movement in this area in the previous two budgets."
Farming groups broadly welcomed the Budget. IFApresident John Dillon said it was a very positive first step to achieve a viable farming sector in the face of major challenges such as the reform of the Common Agricultural Program (CAP).
Business group ISMEdescribed the budget as "populist" but condemned Mr Cowen for not extending the PAYE allowance to owner/managers and the self-employed.
"From a small business perspective, the most encouraging aspect of this year's Budget was the lack of increases in excise duties and indirect taxes, which will help to dampen down inflationary pressures, which is absolutely crucial for our competitiveness."
Screen Producers Ireland, the representative body for independent TV and film production companies, expressed disappointment that no additional funding provision for TG4 was made. It had been calling for an increase of €6 million funding to bring it to a total of €30 million.