The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has created more political difficulties for himself by his initial failure to recollect meetings with Mr Tom Gilmartin. On Sunday Mr Ahern said he could recall just one meeting with Mr Gilmartin. Yesterday, in an embarrassing volte-face, Mr Ahern said in a further statement that there had, in fact, been three meetings - two of these took place within a three-day period. For his part, Mr Gilmartin maintains that he met Mr Ahern on four separate occasions.
Mr Ahern's disclosure is not quite the smoking gun the Opposition is seeking, but it has certainly made the Taoiseach's position more vulnerable. To any fair-minded observer, the credibility of Mr Gilmartin's allegations has been enhanced.
Mr Ahern's faulty recollection will scarcely do much to assuage the concerns of the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, who has already moved to qualify her party's support for the Taoiseach. The bond of trust between the coalition partners, essential for the maintenance of a good working relationship in government, has been fractured - and not for the first time. Mr Ahern appeared to be less than forthcoming to the Tanaiste about the Rennicks payment to Mr Ray Burke; he also appeared to mislead her about the appointment of one of the two Appeals Commissioners of the Revenue.
Mr Ahern has much to explain when he makes his statement to the Dail later today. Certainly, last night's Prime Time interview in which he sought to suggest that Mr Gilmartin was treated like anyone else (including the homeless and those seeking their pension entitlements at his constituency office) was less than convincing. Mr Ahern has still to seriously address several important questions: What, if any, is the extent of his knowledge about Mr Gilmartin's alleged £50,000 payment to Mr Padraig Flynn? What does he know about the supposed meeting in March 1989 between Mr Gilmartin and a team of Fianna Fail ministers in Leinster House? Why did he wait until this week to check the record of meetings with Mr Gilmartin, when the developer's allegations - and the fact that they come under the ambit of the Flood tribunal - have been known for some considerable time?
Mr Flynn also has much explaining to do. The commissioner has not denied receiving £50,000 from Mr Gilmartin but, despite calls from the Government and Opposition, he has still to explain the circumstances in which this alleged payment was made - and what became of the money. He has also to explain why he felt it necessary to contact Mr Gilmartin after details of the alleged payment were published in the Sunday Independent.
It is an unprecedented situation. Mr Flynn's record as a strong and effective commissioner is uncontested, but at this juncture Government support for him is ebbing away. Mr Flynn cannot be removed from office by the Government and, in any event, there are sound pragmatic reasons for Mr Flynn remaining in office - critically, the forthcoming negotiations on EU structural funds and CAP reform, where a forceful Irish presence is essential.
For all that, Mr Flynn - who told RTE News last night that he would explain himself only before the Flood tribunal (and then appeared to question whether this whole affair falls within the ambit of the tribunal) - cuts a sorry figure. He is offering only evasive answers to straightforward questions about his own behaviour and is defying the wishes of the Tanaiste. Is this really the image of Ireland Mr Flynn wants to project in Brussels?