Money wasted on so-called experts

ONE aspect of political reform that has escaped any examination so far is the use, overuse and misuse by the government of the plethora of consultants, lawyers, special advisors, spin-doctors, public relations experts, estate agents and so on.

The cost of these dubious practitioners to us, the taxpayer, runs to hundreds of millions every year.

The same coterie of so-called experts advised Bertie Ahern and the Fianna Fáil government in making a dog’s dinner of the boom, also advised Cowen and Lenihan in making a complete pig’s ear of the bust.