`Unacceptable and untrue . . . quite unbelievable . . . the tribunal does notbelieve . . . factually incorrect . . . quite incredible'

Mr Justice McCracken's language is simple and clear, and brutal in its effect

Mr Justice McCracken's language is simple and clear, and brutal in its effect. Former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey has given untrue evidence under oath. His sworn statements are incredible, unbelievable and factually incorrect. His attitude to the tribunal before he came to give his evidence may have resulted in a criminal offence, and if charged and convicted he could be imprisoned for two years, fined £10,000, or both.

Former Minister and ex-chairman of the Fine Gael party, Mr Michael Lowry, is a tax evader who lived in a powerful businessman's pocket and operated in the black economy through almost all of his Dail career.

One of the most prominent business people in the State, Mr Ben Dunne, "knowingly assisted" Mr Lowry in evading tax.

He deliberately kept the cost of Mr Lowry's lavish house extension from prying eyes by charging it to work on one of the company's shopping centres.

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There are no complexities in the report to be analysed and interpreted. The argument about whether there has been something rotten in the political system is over. The debate moves on to what to do about it.

On that subject, the judge is equally simple and clear. The receipt of secret gifts by politicians such as Mr Haughey from business people such as Mr Dunne is unacceptable.

The 11 pages on Mr Lowry show an ambitious apprentice engineer stepping into the waiting arms of his master and never questioning the fine print. Mr Lowry "apparently had such faith in the generosity of Mr Ben Dunne that he agreed to these terms".

If a Government Minister could be seen to be fiddling his taxes, then how could the rest of us be expected to abide by the law, the report asks.

The sections dealing with Mr Haughey show a man living an expensive lifestyle funded by secret payments into off-shore accounts in order to avoid paying tax.

Faced with the threat of being found out he misled the tribunal and continued to do so until he was found out. Then he came to the tribunal and told untruths.

Mr Justice McCracken finds no evidence of any favours being sought by Mr Dunne or being exercised on his behalf by Mr Haughey or Mr Lowry. But this does not take away from the unacceptable nature of the gifts received by Mr Haughey which, if permitted, "would inevitably lead in some cases to bribery and corruption".

The measures in the recent Ethics in Public Office Act and the Electoral Act are commendable, says the judge, but they may not go far enough. There should be greater sanctions for breaches of obligations imposed by ethics legislation. Giving the Ombudsman the function of policing the legislation should be considered.

All candidates in Oireachtas elections should be required to produce a certificate saying their tax affairs are in order, he recommends. Making a false declaration of interests should be a criminal offence. Anyone found guilty of an offence under the Ethics in Public Office Act should be disqualified from becoming a member of the Oireachtas, perhaps permanently.