Rules for consultants - Expensive lesson forces State to act

Consultants will never be a thing of the past, despite new rules announced by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday claiming to avoid another repetition of the PPARS payroll fiasco in the health service.

Ironically, it came amidst further criticism from the opposition about another €3 million wasted on another project.

An escape clause has been left whereby government departments will be entitled to call in external expertise from the private sector and internationally, where it is deemed necessary.