Banana Republic

Two journalists, summoned to the Mahon Tribunal face hefty fines and or a a spell in prison, because of their refusals to reveal the source of information leaked into the public domain about payments to Bertie Ahern when Finance minister.

The Mahon Tribunal was established in the teeth of the opposition of Fianna Fail politicians in Dublin to look into corrupt payments to politicians of all political stripes. It has done a very good job so far.

We all know that such a tribunal must have strict rules about disclosures. Yet the information about Ahern was leaked not to cause mischief, but because it was felt it was never going to be made public. It was to be buried, to be revealed, if at all only partially. Had it not been for the actions of the journalists we would not now know about Bertie's little present of £38,000. Nor would we know about the £8.000 appearance fee (or whatever else it might be called).

We are faced with a really bizarre situation, not one fitting a so-called liberal democracy. Those who expose lying and low standards in high places are imprisoned, while those politicians whom they have exposed are left free - to run the country.

And as to Biffo's contention that Bertie didn't break any law because there was no law there to break, that just shows how rotten our political system is. So because there were no guidelins saying it was wrong for a serving minister to accept payment for speaking at an event, over and above his hefty ministerial salary, it wasn't wrong is mealy-mouthed in the extreme. "Sure if it was wrong wouldn't The Church condemn it?" Perhaps Mr Ahern was speaking in a private capacity, as a private citizen. Perhaps it was a seminar on how people in public life can cope with the breakdown of their marriage, or how they can chastise their wife. We will see.