Ahern took umbrage that newly elected TDs thought to question his integrity . . . and in highly critical language, at that. The Fianna Fail leader has practised a policy with his own deputies that they must serve long apprenticeships before getting any sniff of advancement. He must therefore be appalled to see new Fine Gael TDs like Creighton who already feel they can fully participate in national political life.

But Ahern is oldschool.

There's a new breed of politician in Leinster House . . . and on all sides of the house. They are ambitious and not prepared to serve their time. Just like Creighton, these new TDs will only give respect where they believe it has been earned. And, from what has been learned about Bertie Ahern over the last 12 months, he has disrespected the highest offices in the state. It cannot be said often enough but Ahern was wrong in taking money from businessmen . . . known and unknown . . . when he was finance minster. Creighton said nothing in her short Dail speech that was untrue. But maybe for Ahern, the truth hurts most. If this is so, it must have been hard to have had to listen last week in the Dail chamber to a young woman with a passion for politics and a hunger to succeed as she damned him with the truth.

"The Taoiseach's evasion, obfuscation and deeply contradictory evidence at the Mahon tribunal in recent days can no longer be ignored. His efforts to mislead and obstruct the fact-finding efforts of a tribunal, established by his own government, are base in the extreme. They certainly do not represent the high standards in public office that we should expect from any public figure, particularly the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach's deliberate untruths have contributed to a deep suspicion of politicians among members of the public, " Creighton said.

Her contribution stood in stark contrast to that of the Taoiseach. "I am satisfied I have done nothing wrong, " he said. Not even the public, who voted Ahern back into office last May, believe his version of events. Opinion poll data supports this.

Ahern has contributed greatly to the development of New Ireland. He was one of those who pushed the peace process in the North towards a final reconciliation. He was one of those who progressed the economic revitalisation of the Irish economy. But his own actions in taking large sums of money . . . and then repeatedly failing to offer any adequate and consistent explanations . . . have lessened public life. The soon-to-be-retired Fianna Fail leader already has one foot in the political past. New deputies such as Lucinda Creighton are the future. And for that, we should be grateful.