The five-year delay in holding public hearings into allegations of political corruption made by the property developer, Mr Tom Gilmartin, has come to an end. These particular charges go to the very heart of government. They have serious implications for senior politicians in this and three previous Fianna Fáil-led governments.
The damage caused by the delay to public trust in the political system - and in tribunals themselves - has been substantial. And responsibility must lie between a government that failed to respond to repeated requests for extra resources and the procedures of the Flood/Mahon tribunal itself. Yesterday, Mr Gilmartin began his evidence before the tribunal and spoke about meeting the former Minister for Finance, Mr Ray MacSharry, on two occasions in the late 1980s concerning his plans to develop large shopping centres at Bachelors Walk and at Quarryvale in west Dublin. The tribunal was also told about a meeting with the then Minister for the Environment, Mr Pádraig Flynn and a cheque for £50,000 for the Fianna Fáil party.
Mr MacSharry has denied ever meeting Mr Gilmartin, while Mr Flynn has insisted the money was a no-strings-attached political donation for himself and not for Fianna Fáil. It is already clear those directly involved will challenge much of Mr Gilmartin's evidence. But the picture he has begun to paint of corruption and of politicians seeking donations has a compelling ring.
The findings of the McCracken tribunal in 1997 tore the veil from the public's eyes about how the former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, funded his lavish lifestyle. It forced the resignation of Fine Gael minister, Mr Michael Lowry, because of tax evasion. Since then, the Flood/Mahon tribunal has established that corrupt planning payments were made to Mr Ray Burke and Mr George Redmond. It sent Mr Liam Lawlor to jail for failing to co-operate. And it is in the process of exploring the bribery of local authority politicians by Mr Frank Dunlop and others.
As is usual on such occasions, there has been a virulent outbreak of amnesia amongst those directly involved. The present module will cover events from 1987 to 1990, when Mr Gilmartin returned from England to promote his plans for two large shopping developments in Dublin. He was repeatedly asked for money and was eventually forced to abandon his plans. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and half-a-dozen former ministers are amongst those who will dispute the evidence given by the Sligo-born builder. The hearings, which started yesterday, should have been accorded a much greater priority.