FF adviser given clearance for job

THE special adviser to Tánaiste Brian Cowen was given official clearance before taking up his new position with an investment bank bidding for the Government’s Metro North project.

High-flying economist and stockbroker Colin Hunt was the special adviser to both Mr Cowen and, before that, to former transport minister Martin Cullen.

As such he was a central in drawing up the long-term government policy, Transport 21. And in finance he became a key adviser to Mr Cowen and later as an architect of economic policies for Fianna Fáil’s election manifesto. Mr Hunt is now taking up the position of divisional director for Ireland with Macquarie, a specialist investment bank.