THERE'S no doubt that the outgoing Government emptied the cookie jar before leaving office. The former Minister for Announcing Jobs, Richard Bruton, was able to announce 115 new jobs for Wexford this week. And he was also able to announce that negotiations were at an advanced stage for 150 jobs in Kilkenny.

This announcement is expected in July, when the Rainbow will have faded from the political firmament. Perhaps the Minister was away on business when IDA chief executive Kieran McGowan expressed fears last week that premature leaks could jeopardise certain projects.