Doctor O'Hanlon gives diagnosis calmly

The Government appeared to be on life support last night, but Doctor Rory O'Hanlon insisted its condition was "comfortable".

Only hours after his report on donations to Fianna Fail members of Dublin Co Council precipitated the resignation from the party of Liam Lawlor, the parliamentary chairman was calmly reassuring members in the corridors of Leinster House that the situation was not critical.

But not even he could deny it had been another trying day in the emergency room. A few hours earlier, Doctor O'Hanlon had delivered his non-directive diagnosis on the ethical condition of 45 party councillors including Mr Lawlor, breaking the report gently and in his best bedside manner.

But by teatime, Mr Lawlor's Fianna Fail life was over. Seasoned observers suspected a surgical strike by party spin doctors - a sharp instrument was found near the scene, and whether Mr Lawlor had fallen on it or been pushed was unclear.

Either way, party sources were denying he'd been knifed (or stitched up) and forensic experts were searching in vain for fingerprints.

Mr Lawlor, who refused to point the finger, sympathised with the party's Standards in Public Office Committee, whose report accused him of being unco-operative, on the difficult job it had to do.

He did suggest the committee had subjected him to a scrutiny not experienced by other councillors, and insisted the extent of his co-operation was evident from the uniquely lengthy section of the report devoted to him.

But the decision to resign from the party was his alone, he said, taken only after speaking to his wife and children.

His resignation, combined with a pledge of continued support for the Coalition, left the Government's majority even more precarious than before. But Opposition parties were not rushing to an election footing.

Labour said the decision saved "Ahern's blushes" while adding to Mary Harney's discomfort. But not even the Green Party - on such high moral ground these days it'll soon need breathing equipment - could get excited. "Something had to give," John Gormley said, otherwise describing the atmosphere in the Dail as "muted".

Outside on Molesworth Street, meanwhile, Dr O'Hanlon spoke to reporters only minutes after Mr Lawlor vacated the same spot.

In the same calm voice, he said Fianna Fail was not a party for "blood and feathers". Fianna Fail people always considered the situation calmly and "did what was the right thing for the party". He added: "But it's a sad night for Liam Lawlor and his wife."

As to the health of the Government, Dr O'Hanlon was sanguine. He had told his constituency workers in Cavan-Monaghan to prepare for an election in the spring of 2002, and he was not changing the diagnosis now.

The Government's life expectancy was normal, for a Government of its age.