Refusing to comment

For 15 years we listened to politicians refusing to comment on those under investigation by the Mahon Tribunal on the grounds that such comment could undermine the work of the tribunal.

Now, after Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell was found to have acted inappropriately by accepting £500 from Frank Dunlop, we’re told by Minister Richard Bruton that any comment could undermine the work of the recently established Fine Gael internal inquiry.

He tells us that the inquiry will make recommendations, which, no doubt, will be forwarded to a committee for further consideration before being forwarded to a sub-committee before being … quietly forgotten.