An obscenely costly way to wreck lives and remove basic legal rights

A CALLER to a radio programme yesterday announced that he would put Michael McDowell back in power for nothing other than his criticism of tribunals.

It’s arguable that shutting down the Mahon tribunal — not that they’ll do it — would get this entire Government a whole bunch of votes they wouldn’t otherwise get.

Because the Irish people are good at maths. Good at applied maths. Good at applied practical maths. Tell them that the Mahon Tribunal has cost a billion, and they ask the sensible questions. How many nurses would a billion euro pay? How many nursing homes would it build? How many improvements to travel and access could it make?