Public spending - State faces autumn of discontent

The decision by the Government to appoint a group of three experts to scrutinise projected expenditure will inevitably bring the cynical reaction that it is a handwashing exercise in anticipation of public outcry at the present and future cuts in public spending.

There is no denying the experience and credentials of those appointed. Maurice O’Connell is a former Governor of the Central Bank; Dermot Quigley is the ex chairman of the Revenue Commissioners and Kevin Bonner is a former secretary general of the Department of Labour.

Collectively, their remit is to go through projected expenditure of each Government department and the result will influence the Estimates on which the Budget is based.