Corporate Hospitality

national | anti-capitalism | opinion/analysis Sunday September 17, 2006 15:40 by Éamonn Ó Flannagáin cupla2 at gmail dot com 086 066 1055

"No such thing as a free lunch"

Ministers have been warned about accepting Ryder Cup hospitality but what about Civil Servants.

The Irish Times, 16 Mean Fómhair, reported that Ministers have been warned about accepting Corporate Hospitality such as invitations from people and companies with deep pockets to be their guests at the Ryder Cup. As I was in Australia at the time of the World Cup, I don't know if a similar warning was issued concerning acceptance of invitations to watch the Finals on giant screens in prestigious locations followed by silver service dinner hosted by big names.

Does anybody know if Civil Servants have also had their Ryder Cup cards marked? It would be an appalling conflict of interest if, for example, Civil Servants dealing with SHELL and or its partners were to accept any such hospitality or get stuck in the "19th Hole".

Of course it should not be necessary to issue warnings for each major event but perhaps some people might forget "there is no such thing as a free lunch".

Éamonn Ó Flannagáin

cupla2@gmail.com