Leaders must act on use of public money

It is utterly unacceptable that a cosy arrangement between two ministers to present a private project for Punchestown racecourse with €15 million of taxpayers’ money literally on the nod should be allowed to be consolidated.

What is even more intolerable are the unsustainable attitudes towards this ministerial laissez-faire approach to public money of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney. Characteristically, Mr Ahern has remained aloof from commenting on this issue, other than through a spokesperson to aver that the Government is not embarrassed.

Ms Harney has merely regretted that greater care was not taken in spending taxpayers’ money and that there was no business plan for the project.