Haughey praised for getting projects finished

Former taoiseach Charles Haughey came in for some rare praise from the coalition yesterday.

Brian Hayes, the junior finance minister, called attention to the late Fianna Fáil leader’s ability to finish projects in tough times as he answered questions about the sale of state assets and the construction of the promised children’s hospital.

The Fine Gael minister’s praise surprised some. The Moriarty Tribunal found Mr Haughey took payments worth the equivalent of €11.5m between 1979 and 1996 in return for favours.