Jobs on state boards - More broken promises

Same colours — different teams. That sums up the similarity between a discredited Fianna Fáil administration and the current Fine Gael-led coalition when it comes to doling out positions on state boards.

Giving jobs to political cronies has long been a cancer at the heart of Irish politics. A brave new era of open competition was trumpeted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as the way to rid Irish politics of this spectre.

Yet, the litany of broken government promises continues as if nothing had changed. It seems the Fine Gael pledge to advertise public appointments so as to demonstrate its commitment to openness and transparency was mere lip service.