Government under fire for ‘€3m photo-call’

THE Government was last night accused of squandering €3 million on a new IT fiasco, with only a photograph to show for the wasted taxpayers’ cash.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny insisted the Health Service Portal project was a disaster and its “fake launch” amounted to the most expensive publicity stunt in Irish history.

The latest IT waste row erupted as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s new clampdown on soaring bills for outside experts was attacked - because it would involve more private consultants.