The same old politicians rely on the same old brand of cronyism

Further proof that Fine Gael and Labour have no intention of stopping the country sliding back into the cronyism is the revelation that in the midst the IMMA scandal, Mr Noonan didn’t even blush at reappointing Michael Soden and Des Geraghty as members of the Central Bank Commission quango. Did no one in the department think it would be worthwhile to advertise the positions to see who might apply?

The response to the recent cronyism should have been for Mr Kenny to announce that no one who is currently appointed to any position will be automatically reappointed and as their terms run out, the position will be publicly advertised and filled by a Public Sector Appointment Commission with no connection to the Minister of the relevant department. If that person wants to reapply they are welcome to do so and the names of everyone who applied will be made public.

Can you imagine any large company in the world where every vacancy is notified to the chief executive first, so he can have first dibs on appointing someone from his family, friends or golf club and then just tell the HR department who he has appointed?