Toothless response to Mahon report

It is an absolute certainty that if a Mahon Tribunal-like report were published in any self-respecting, functional democracy there would have been immediate arrests and police investigations.

In Ireland the response was depressingly predictable. A copy of the report was sent to the DPP, the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda Commissioner and the toothless Standards in Public Office Commission.

There was the usual fake anger from politicians mouthing meaningless Fr. Ted-like utterances like ‘down with this sort of thing’ before heading off on their two weeks Easter holiday.