If Minister of State for Transport Ivor Callely does not resign because of his irregular behaviour in relation to the decoration of his family home, the Taoiseach has no option but to sack him.
No matter that the unpaid-for work was carried out before Mr Callely became a junior minister in this Government. The very fact that he accepted a significant, undeclared benefit from a major construction company raised public concerns about his probity. He was considering his position last night.
It was typical of the single-minded, ambitious Dublin North Central TD that he attempted to brazen it out; claimed he had done nothing wrong and saw no reason why he should consider his position. That might have worked in the years before Michael Lowry, Ray Burke and a handful of others were forced to resign or were subjected to party discipline because of their behaviour. The Taoiseach knows it will not work any more.
The public will not tolerate any whiff of impropriety from their politicians. Recent controversies over Mr Callely's inability to get along with his staff and his offer of a car in an attempt to dissuade one employee from resigning, reflected an arrogant and unseemly style of management. That style is also apparent in his approach to planning issues in west Cork, detailed in this newspaper today.
Mr Callely became chairman of the Eastern Health Board in 1991 when one of the largest building companies in the State, John Paul Construction, was engaged in a multimillion pound refurbishment programme of its headquarters. He says John Paul senior had offered to help him out with the decoration of his home after another company let him down. But Mr Callely was never charged for the work. And he never paid the bill. Such behaviour, even in the political climate of the time, was something to be concealed. It could not qualify as a political donation. Yesterday, Mr Callely attempted to divert attention from this unpalatable fact by denying a charge that was never made.
Mr Ahern insisted the public was entitled to an absolute guarantee about the financial probity and integrity of its elected representatives, following disclosure nine years ago that massive donations were made by big business to Charles Haughey. He spoke of drawing a line under bad habits from the past. And in the intervening years, the Taoiseach has tried to do that. By seeking an explanation from Mr Callely, before taking any action, he did the right thing. And with his authority being challenged, Mr Ahern has no option but to sack him if he does not step down voluntarily.