If we don’t slash and burn now someone else will do it for us later

The OPW is renting – at high cost – dozens of unoccupied buildings, partly arising out of the aborted decentralisation scheme. It’s a disgrace. Heads should roll. I would issue an edict to terminate such leases forthwith.

The minister for finance should negotiate a 25% reduction of all property rents

THE debate on public finance stabilisation needs to get real. The post-budget book of estimates for 2009 sets out current expenditure of €56.6bn (up 6% on 2008) andcapital spending of €7.3bn. This €64bn contrasts with tax revenue expectation of €36bn. You don’t need a degree in economics to cop the €28bn shortfall. This year we’ll borrow the balance.