Dáil watchdog needs more teeth, says Allen

THE state’s spending watchdog must be beefed up and equipped with more wide-ranging investigative powers, its outgoing chairman said.

And in a veiled swipe at Bertie Ahern, veteran Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen, who is retiring from politics, described “charismatic and populist” taoisigh as “dangerous”.

The outgoing chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was speaking yesterday after his shock announcement on Tuesday that he will not be contesting the general election, having represented the people of Cork North Central for more than 30 years.