Economist Colm McCarthy discusses infrastructure delivery, fiscal prudence, populism, accountability and more.

McCarthy was a member of the Expenditure Review Committee, often referred to as An Bord Snip, which was an advisory group established during a period of economic downturn in the 1980s to make recommendations to the the Irish government on cuts to state spending.

Colm later chaired the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, more commonly known as An Bord Snip Nua, which was a similar government advisory committee established following the financial crash in 2008.

Clip of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey's "living beyond our means" address courtesy of RTE Archives.

Further Reading:

• https://researchrepository.ucd.ie/entities/publication/3999d60c-439b-469e-89ec-44f347ba3bf2
• https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/bord-snip-nua-shows-government-is-getting-serious-1.916649
• https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0716/119603-economy1/
• https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0904/121438-economy/
• https://www.independent.ie/business/irish-business/no-hostage-to-fortune/a/150204933.html
• https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2017/1229/929051-state-papers-part-two/#:~:text=20.%20The%20first%20%22Bord%20Snip%22%C2%A0decides%20what%20to%20cut