Did you know that there was a free BAR across Europe after the UK left the EU?

The BAR in question was the €5.4bn Brexit Adjustment Reserve, which was introduced to help countries adapt to Brexit.

Ireland was due to receive around €800m from the reserve. However, it is still unclear how much BAR funding was actually secured by Irish businesses and State agencies.

There have been suggestions that a fair proportion of the €800m allocated to Ireland may not have found a home and is winging its way back to Brussels.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has offered little clarity on these rumours.

It pointed out that the allocation of BAR funding is subject to auditing by the European Commission and this process will not be completed until the end of the year. The Dealer has oft been described as an old curmudgeon, but methinks the mood music around BAR is not good.

Did Ireland dither as the free BAR closed?

Time will tell.