Punchestown debacle – Public trust has been betrayed

“Nobody can stand over what is outlined in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report,” the Tánaiste told the Dáil yesterday.

But Mary Harney proceeded in terms that essentially suggested that this Government is going to do absolutely nothing about the findings of the report, which concluded that the Departments of Agriculture and Finance ignored guidelines on the expenditure of public finances in relation the funding of the events centre at Punchestown.

The Government seems content to blame the civil servants involved, while the opposition seeks to blame the responsible ministers. In reality, the civil servants and the politicians are to blame for betraying the public trust.