McWilliams has been criticised for publicly pointing out flaws in projects that he has been involved in. While working for the Central Bank he admitted writing magazine articles criticising speeches he had written for then Finance Minister Bertie Ahern. In 2009 while promoting Follow The Money he declared that Brian Lenihan turned up at his house, looking dishevelled and chewing raw garlic, seeking advice on the bank guarantee. McWilliams claimed that he offered advice on this matter, subsequently writing that the idea was "a masterstroke" before going on to criticise it because McWilliams believed it was not implemented in the fashion he advised. Lenihan and McWilliams disagreed on the details of "garlic-gate". While promoting Follow The Money, McWilliams made comments about senior RTÉ journalist Miriam O'Callaghan where he accused her of flirting with and effectively trying to seduce her guests, writing "Miriam winks, with a faint pout and the casual lick of those hyper-glossed lips. You're mine now, boy, she signals. This is my web you've just walked into. Clothes on or off". This was widely criticised as sexist at the time, and McWilliams subsequently apologised. Awards In January 2007, McWilliams was selected as one of 250 Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum. Bibliography The Generation Game (2007). . The Pope's Children (2005). . Follow the Money (2009). . The Good Room (2012) . Renaissance Nation (2018) . References External links Official website David McWilliams at the Irish Independent 1966 births 20th-century Irish economists 21st-century Irish economists Living people Alumni of Trinity College Dublin BNP Paribas College of Europe alumni Irish columnists Irish Independent people Irish people of Scottish descent Irish podcasters Newstalk presenters People educated at Blackrock College People from County Dublin RTÉ television presenters Virgin Media Television (Ireland) presenters Business Post people People from Dún Laoghaire