Ahern ‘running country into the ground’

THE waste of taxpayers’ money and incompetent management are the hallmarks of Bertie Ahern’s Government, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said yesterday.

Speaking during an angry exchange on the controversial indemnity agreement reached between former Education Minister, Michael Woods, and the religious orders, Mr Rabbitte said the conclusions of the Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted a litany of mismanagement and incompetence.

“The party that’s supposed to be able to run the country is running the country into the ground,” said Mr Rabbitte. “And the worst waste of all is the deal with the religious congregations. But obviously the Taoiseach doesn’t care about mismanagement of taxpayers’ money. Many of his elected representatives don’t bother paying their taxes, not to mention the fellows who visit the tent at the Galway races.”