Sargent resignation - A gift to the politics of corruption

FOR a country so unused to political resignations, despite myriad opportunities, these last few weeks and months have been a spectacular break from our usual fare of denial and intransigence.

Late yesterday afternoon junior minister Trevor Sargent followed George Lee, Maire de Burca and Willie O’Dea and resigned from office.

Former Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue resigned last October in a scandal over his expenses.

The resignation of such a senior party figure will further test the nerve of the Greens. It will also make it more difficult for them to win the debate on the kind of accountability an ethical standards they demanded while in opposition.

It will have a far greater impact on the Greens than might be ordinarily expected after the resignation of a junior minister. They will now be seen as being as frail and vulnerable – and that’s a charitable way to put it – as any other party in the Oireachtas.

That Mr Sargent was, on the face of it, doing no more than trying to support a constituent who stood up for his community is irrelevant. A legal process had begun and interference was not an option.

That he resigned just a few hours after the story broke is in stark contrast to the bitter 11-week rearguard action fought by John O’Donoghue. It is in stark contrast too to the demeaning blather thrown up by Willie O’Dea and his erstwhile supporters over the last few weeks.

Though there was dignity in the manner of his resignation Mr Sargent had no alternative. He made this clear himself, in April 2002, when he spoke in the Dáil on the resignation of Bobby Molloy due to approaches to a judge’s office over a rape case.

Seen in this light Mr Sargent’s letter to the gardaí was most inappropriate in intent and content. It made assumptions far beyond anything that is acceptable.Indeed, it is hard to reconcile such a letter with someone who has the reputation for integrity and high standards enjoyed by Mr Sargent.

He cannot use the inexperience defence either as he is a member of the Dáil since 1992.

Though the contents of the letter cannot be denied the timing of its release into the public domain gives rise to some suspicion. Labour’s Pat Rabbitte described its discovery and publication as “the empire strikes back”.

Be that as it may, the core issue is that Mr Sargent was wrong to do what he did and though he has paid a relatively small price his party will pay a far greater one.

So will we. He has given an invaluable hostage to fortune to the political culture that has almost destroyed this country. Another bad day for us all.