There was, Bertie Ahern told last April's ardfheis, no place in Fianna Fail for people seeking or receiving large sums of money. Preparing for a general election and only days before the McCracken tribunal began its investigations, Mr Ahern cut loose from unacceptable practices.
Under his leadership, he said, Fianna Fail would implement the highest ethical standards.
Without referring to Charles Haughey by name, Mr Ahern declared: "There would be no place in our party today for that kind of past behaviour, no matter how eminent the person involved or the extent of their prior services to the country."
So what is to be done about a disgraced former Taoiseach and party leader who, like Jack Lynch, is an honorary member of the party? Nobody is yet saying within Fianna Fail.
The leadership is awaiting next Monday's publication of the McCracken report to assess the extent of the damage done to Fianna Fail. But efforts have been made to suggest that Mr Haughey is not a cumann member and that therefore the question of formal expulsion does not arise.
By the time the Oireachtas finishes chewing on the McCracken report in mid-September, however, the issue of Mr Haughey's membership of Fianna Fail may be overtaken by events.
For the opposition parties are determined to initiate a new tribunal of inquiry into payments to Mr Haughey from sources other than Dunnes Stores during his years as Taoiseach. And they will probably raise again the payment of money to Ray Burke by building interests. An element of amnesia has developed in relation to former Fine Gael Minister, Michael Lowry.
Last July John Bruton spoke of the need to examine "whether any payments were made in return for, or with a view to, favours which were sought or offered to the donors by Mr Haughey or by ministers in the governments in which he served". He singled out the beef industry for particular inquiry and suggested that if corruption was discovered the concept of collective Cabinet responsibility would make all ministers in those governments guilty.
"Many members of this Government served in office with Mr Haughey during the time he received money from private donors. They are collectively responsible with him for all his actions as Taoiseach during that period," Mr Bruton said.
To say Fianna Fail is unenthusiastic about a new tribunal of inquiry would be an understatement. And it is determined that any such investigation will not be limited to possible payments made to Mr Haughey. All politicians should be included, according to Mary O'Rourke.
The Labour Party favours the investigation of specific instances where questions were raised about government business decisions. These would involve the floating of Greencore, Telecom HQ, beef export decisions, passports for sale, the purchase of Carysfort, the licensing of Esat and the bread price war involving Dunnes Stores in the 1990s.
The Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat Government will meet to consider the contents of the McCracken report on Thursday and to decide on its Dail strategy for mid-September.
Failure by Mr Ahern to follow through on his early commitments would sour relations between the Government parties and make life extremely difficult for Mary Harney. The Government will have to initiate new legislation on corruption. And the darker corners of Irish political life, where it intersects with business, will have to be investigated.