Corruption in public life: We get the politicians we deserve

IT is one of the tragedies of modern Ireland that the outrage — and even shame for those who still cling to some sort of a moral compass — provoked by Monday night’s excellent RTÉ Investigates programme that uncovered corruption in several local authorities will be no more than a three-day wonder. 

Just like every other exposé of criminal behaviour in our public affairs it will provoke anger, indignation and some table-thumping demands for forceful measures to confront what now seems almost an inescapable cancer.

It is tragic too that this reaction has become as regular and destructive as winter flooding, a reaction that will inevitably be forgotten when Christmas festivities offer a welcome refuge from the everyday sleaze undermining this democracy. This passing bluster is the default reaction to every tribunal report, every process that uncovers low standards in high places but nothing changes.