This week's final report of the Public Accounts Committee into DIRT has at the bottom of the glossy cover a hazy photograph of the sub-committee at work under chairman Jim Mitchell. But all is not quite as it seems. Opposite Mitchell, a line of diligent members - Sean Ardagh, Pat Rabbitte, Sean Doherty and Bernard Durkan - shuffle papers but between them and Mitchell is a vacant place. This is the spot reserved for Denis Foley. But although his papers, are on the desk, there is no Foley. The FF deputy was forced to resign when it emerged early last year at the Moriarty Tribunal that he had an offshore account. The previous report has him in pride of place. Now he's airbrushed out.
Lucky for Mitchell and his team similar problems didn't arise as Beverley Cooper-Flynn resigned from the PAC when she was found by the High Court to have encouraged and assisted others to evade tax. She was not a member of the sub-committee.
As to who will replace Bev on the PAC, Bertie Ahern, hasn't made any moves yet but the word in informed circles is that it may be the Cork East deputy, Michael Ahern, an accountant by profession and FF tax expert.