Developers working through the tortuous bidding process of “confidential tenders” and sealed bids for OPW land might throw an eye towards the Czech Republic, which this week begins an auction process for vast tracts of land.

Owned mainly by the Ministry of Defence, previous sales had led to accusations of “brown envelope politics” and provoked the downfall of a couple of post-Communist politicians.

Now, says the ministry, the process will be more transparent: an independent arbiter will assign a value for the land at market prices. It will then be put to public auction. If the bidding does not reach 100 per cent of the market value, the land will be assigned to auction at 70 per cent of the arbiters value. Failing which, after due interval, it will be auctioned at a reserve price of 30 per cent of the original market value.

Dare we say, it sounds very Irish! Or in this case, Czech. Flights to Prague, anyone?