O’Donoghue quits - No option other than to resign

LATE last night Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue accepted the inevitable and announced that he would resign next week. His position had become untenable and represented a running sore at the heart of this beleaguered Government. For some days there has been the strengthening feeling he could not sustain his position once the Lisbon Treaty vote was out of the way.

Had he refused to resign Taoiseach Brian Cowen would have been forced to remove him. It would have been utterly impossible for the Government to impose the draconian measures anticipated in the December budget while tolerating Mr O’Donoghue’s indulgences.

The resignation represents an enormous personal tragedy for Mr O’Donoghue and his family but, unfortunately for him, it cannot be denied that it is one of his own making.