Despite lavish spending during the boom, an internal audit by the country’s health and safety watchdog has concluded the taxpayer-funded agency did not abuse credit cards by splashing out at five-star international hotels and Michelin restaurants.

THE Health and Safety Authority was spending almost €1 million a year on consultants during the boom but reduced the bill by 80% when its budget was cut.

The Celtic Tiger economy is the best thing that has ever happened to Ireland, leading author and broadcaster Frank Delaney claimed today.