Curtains controversy drawn to a close

“2007 IS not 2011,” Minister of State for Public Sector Reform Brian Hayes said as he defended the €7,000 cost four years ago of curtains for the office of then leas ceann comhairle – and now his boss – Brendan Howlin.

Mr Hayes, who was launching a set of documents aimed at dramatically cutting costs and red tape in the tendering process for public sector contracts, insisted that “value for money is the crucial ingredient” now in all goods and services the State buys.

Mr Howlin is Minister at the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, charged with controlling and reducing the public sector bill. His office is in the Department of Finance on Merrion Street. In 2007, he was appointed leas ceann comhairle of the Dáil. The refurbishment of his Leinster House office included a reported €8,000 charge for floor-to-ceiling curtains.

Mr Hayes said the work was carried out for the Houses of the Oireachtas and cost €7,000.

The Minister said that “given the significance of the building, the curtains and all of that, it was the best choice available at that time”.

He stressed that “2007 is not 2011” and that “value for money is the crucial ingredient”.

“In the past, people possibly were not as acutely aware as that but in fairness to the Minister who was then the leas ceann comhairle this was work that was carried out by the Houses of the Oireachtas who were effectively our client on behalf of the OPW [Office of Public Works].”