Bertie’s fired, tired and wired TDs ready to play fiscal musical chairs

WITH a shamelessness that would make even Katie French blush, the Taoiseach last night dangled the Dáil spoils of committee chairpersonships in front of his dazzled backbenchers.

Dancing attendance on their leader, Fianna Fáil TDs proved once and for all Oireachtas committees are not just dayrooms for the bewildered, as cynics insist — they are nice little earners too.

Mr Ahern let it be known he was keen to slap the backs of those he was forced to let go, felt sorry for or was scared of — when the plum posts are announced tomorrow, it will be the day of the fired, tired and wired.