A strong ombudsman would defend the innocent from wayward gardaí

IT gives an insight into the warped thinking of this Government when it seeks to justify the ban on smoking on health grounds but still earns millions from the industry by holding shares in tobacco companies.

Bar owners are beginning to be prosecuted for allowing people to smoke on their premises, while the Government had absolutely no problem in accepting €24 million last year from investments in those companies.

Charlie McCreevy, the Finance Minister who is on his reluctant way to Brussels to become Commissioner for whatever, declared he could see no contradiction in the pension board investing taxpayers’ money in cigarette firms.