TnaG dishes out DIRT to viewers

You've got to hand it to those in charge at TnaG. If RTE had as firm a grasp of consumer preference, we would not have had to wait for competition to force it into producing something worth watching in its schedules, even to the limited degree that it is now doing.

In an attempt to boost those vital viewing figures, which mean so much when the advertising has to be sold, TnaG will broadcast the hearings of the "DIRT Committee" - the Dail Committee of Public Accounts hearings into the raising of Deposit Interest Retention Tax - live over about 23 days this autumn.

With the kids back at school and the prospect of bank chiefs having to give evidence under oath along with leading figures from the Revenue Commissioners, Central Bank and Department of Finance, the hearings' viewing figures should put daytime offerings on other channels in the shade.

The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell, will have given more than one bank chief executive pause for thought but already this week they were setting out their stalls in advance of any subpoenas. At the front of the queue was National Irish Bank's project director, John Tretho wan, whose main cause for cheer seemed to be that all the financial institutions would be getting it in the neck rather than simply NIB. The idea seems to be that with all this negative publicity getting spread around, less of it will stick to any one institution.

I wouldn't bet on it. Quite apart from the fact that bankers rank with double-glazing salesmen in your average consumer's list of least favourite people, NIB can expect little comfort from its peers who may well feel the sector might not have faced such probing scrutiny had it not been so careless in allowing allegations over interest and fee loading to become public.