Behind the hysteria is old story of ‘the sow that ate her own farrow’

JONATHAN SWIFT wrote those lines in 1703, so it would seem builders have long enjoyed their reputation.

The famous Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin had less to say about economists, probably because Adam Smith had not yet invented that particular branch of study.

Certain economic commentators in Ireland are, however, at present enjoying an ascendency. These are the ones who have found many and varied ways of saying “I told you so”.