Listening to a succession of (mainly) Fine Gael TDs on RTE radio over the weekend, expressing their regrets at Mr Michael Lowry's undoing, it might be concluded that rather than digging a hole for himself, he had been singled out by fate for some random personal tragedy. And from some of them at least, there was an intimation that having paid the price of losing his ministry, the affair could now somehow be closed over.
Equally, it might be taken from the Taoiseach's responses that some formulaic infringement of the house rules had been uncovered. Mr Bruton received the Minister's resignation with an expression of regret and an encomium to his many qualities. It would have been reassuring if this had been accompanied by even the mildest expression of concern at the possible implications of what is now unfolding.
What has been revealed may yet turn out to be a relatively isolated case of a politician entrepreneur getting himself entangled with big business and some of the rough diamonds of big business at that. People like Ben Dunne do not throw benefits worth hundreds of thousands of pounds around for the fun of it. Mr Lowry might conceivably have found it convenient to use Mr Dunne's builders and cleared all subsequent arrangements in regard to tax and revenue. If that had been the case the Minister would not, presumably, have resigned.
But reports are now beginning to emerge of other payments to public figures. It is intimated that at least one senior Fianna Fail figure and his wife have been the beneficiaries of someone's largesse. There are suggestions that some media names have emerged in the course of an investigation by accountants Price Waterhouse into the financial affairs of Dunnes Stores. There may be innocent explanations for these too. If so they should be brought forth immediately. There should be no room in the public life of this small society for any suspicion of canker or sleaze.
The fullest disclosure of the facts must take place. It is not clear that there have been breaches of the tax code. But if there have been they must be prosecuted to the full limits of the law. And if payments have been made, such as have been described in weekend newspaper reports, the purposes of such payments must be uncovered. The status of the Price Waterhouse report is unclear but it is evidently central to any inquiry and the Government must take steps to secure the information it contains. If there is reason to believe that taxation issues are involved, there should be no hesitation, if necessary, in using the powers available to the Criminal Assets Bureau.
The Government needs to display a sense of urgency and concern not least, from Mr Spring and the Labour component of the administration. It is more than a little ironic that with all the vigilance against supposed Fianna Fail villainy, the first politician to be found with a businessman's cheque in his account turns out to be a Fine Gael Minister the anointed of John Bruton who came to office promising probity.
In the meantime, let there be a recognition of the role of the press in unearthing information that those in power would prefer to see buried. Can anyone imagine that without the evidence published last Friday by Mr Sam Smyth in the Irish Independent any of this would have come to light?