Much has been made of Trevor Sargent’s decision to waste no time in resigning once reports of his interference in a Garda investigation got out – and in fairness, he didn’t dally over it for days like Willie O’Dea.

But Trevor Sargent didn’t resign because he did wrong; he resigned because he got caught.

He gave up his Junior Minister’s job and perks because a newspaper report exposed his pleadings on behalf of a man who was the subject of a Garda inquiry – but he’d made those inquiries two years ago.
At no stage over the intervening 24 months did he feel that his position was untenable or indeed that he had even done anything wrong.

There are many who will agree with him too, because this country is riddled with parish pump politics. We seem to think we elect TDs just so they can get us off on a speeding or drunk driving charge or procure for us a medical card or a grant that, strictly speaking, we’re not entitled to.

Ireland has long operated a two-tier system; firstly you try the official route – be it a medical card, planning permission, having your path tarred – and when that fails you ring your local politician.

Trevor was really just learning the ropes and didn’t seem to feel that an intervention into a criminal investigation would be inappropriate. And funnily enough, once he was caught, he immediately saw the writing on the wall.

Willie O’Dea took a little longer – but vision has never been his strong point. Willie was never a team player; he refused time and time again to manage his vote in Limerick to the point where he had enough to spare over a quota to bring in an extra seat ... but he just wanted those votes for himself.

He probably felt that, in the scheme of things, dropping hints late at night about politicians and brothels was just the sort of idle gossip that passes for political banter. He might even have felt there were worse things he could say about Maurice Quinlivan.

This Government has now lost a Senior Minister, a Junior Minister, a Ceann Comhairle and a Taoiseach’s nominee to the Seanad in quick succession.

Fine Gael in contrast has only lost George Lee – and they didn’t really have him for that long in the first place.

This sort of leakage hasn’t been seen since the National Aquatic Centre sprung a hole in the roof, filling the swimming pool to a level that was unacceptable even to swimmers.

The mistake was that the Government did not have Sargent in charge of Defence in the first place – even Willie couldn’t cause much damage looking after Trevor’s flower bed in horticulture.

As somebody else remarked, it’s like the Government still has a penchant for old heavy metal bands.

How else do you explain the fact that we’re now without our Ministers for Gun and Roses?

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.