Wasters

DuringtheyearswhenallseemedwellwiththeIrisheconomy,ascandalbloomedinfrontofourfacesbutwentmostlyunnoticed:thescandalofpublicwaste.Vastoverspendingoninfrastructure(includinganumberofwhiteelephants),extravagantuseofoverpricedconsultants,thecreationofdozensofquangoswhoseprimarypurposeseemedtobejobsfortheboys,thecultureofjunketrythattookholdinthesemi-statesectorandtheOireachtas-theseandotherdubiouspracticesflourishedduringtheyearswhenthestate'scofferswereoverflowing.Theinsidersbenefited;therestofusgotrippedoff.Now,asthestatescramblestobailoutthebanksandtobringordertotheshatteredpublicfinancesbytakingmoneyoutofthepocketsofordinaryworkingpeople,ShaneRossandNickWebbtellthestoryofthewasters:thepeoplewhoperfectedandbenefitedfromthecultureofcronyismandwaste.ThanksinlargeparttoRossandWebb'sjournalisminthe"SundayIndependent"exposingscandalsinFASandCIE,wealreadyknowpartofthisstory.In"Wasters",theauthorsshowhowwideandhowdeeptherotruns,andtheyshowthateveryscandalhasonethingincommon:insidersprofitingattheexpenseofordinarypeople.