After spending decades growing rich on the bribes from land developers, the politicians of Dublin City Hall have become well-used to graft and corruption. It is, in many ways, business as usual, and everything that City Hall oversees can be had or influenced or re-moved – for a price.

It is not unusual for reformers to make their way into city politics, but they quickly find their crusade against the ingrained network of favours faltering. Things just don’t get done without a little money changing hands, and most of the civil service union count on these little tokens of appreciation to make a living wage.

Lately, the prices for favours have dropped significantly in the face of the current recession. This, in turn, means that more favours are going up for sale; now, more people can scrape together the envelope of cash necessary to get City Hall on their side. At least, for that crucial day or two necessary to get the permit, vote, or appointment they need.