Funny way to put the job out to tender

THE recent fuss over Lissadel House reminds me of an old joke where a government job came up for tender and three fellas applied for it.

The first was a Corkman who wanted €3,000, saying he needed €1,000 for labour, €1,000 for materials and €1,000 profit. The second was the Kerryman who wanted €6,000, saying he needed €2,000 for labour, €2,000 for materials and €2,000 profit. The third was the Dublin fella who priced the job at €9,000.

He was immediately offered the contract presumably on the same criteria that the present government gives out lucrative contracts - €3,000 for me, €3,000 for you, and we give the job to the Cork fella!