Irish Examiner view: Questions over Government's latest overspend 

The optics of a State agency seemingly wasting millions at a time when people are struggling to cope with the cost of living are damning for any government

Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture, and Sport Patrick O’Donovan was right to call an investigation into the Arts Council overspend. Picture: Keith Wiseman

For Arts Minister Patrick O’Donovan to describe himself as “desperately angry” and “furious” that the Arts Council spent €7m on an IT system that was never delivered seems like an understatement.

There is no scope for wastage and inefficiency at the best of times, and the optics alone of a State agency seemingly wasting millions at a time when people are struggling to cope with the cost of living are damning for any government.