Politicians must play by the rules

HAS Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy no shame?

After trampling on his department’s rules by exceeding the cap on grant aid in the case of the Punchestown agriculture centre, which happens to be in his constituency, it also transpires the minister has arranged for a major event to be staged there during Ireland’s presidency of the EU.

Displaying his characteristic flair for muddying already muddy waters, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has failed to shed any new light on how two Cabinet ministers of the racing fraternity used their powers to clear any hurdles, financial or otherwise, that might have stood in the path of this venture.