Far from clarifying matters, the Taoiseach’s performance in the Dail has simply added to his credibility problems.

The Taoiseach now admits that when he finished his round of golf, he was joined by a number of other people, including another Director of Anglo Irish Bank, Garry McGann.

So now we know that the Taoiseach was in the company of two people who were then members of the Board of Anglo and one who had resigned from the board just months earler.

Mr. Cowen admits that this group discussed economic matters, but he continues to ask us to believe that the situation of Anglo was never raised over the course of the entire day.

In addition when asked by Eamon Gilmore he failed offer any explanation as to why he failed to divulge his contacts with Sean Fitzpatrick when he dealt with this issue on no less than four occasions in the Dail during 2009.

In addition, he ignored a request from Deputy Gilmore to place on the record of the House an account of all contacts with Mr. Fitzpatrick and other senior personnel from the beginning of 2008 up to the date of nationalisation.

Mr. Cowen and his government are damaged beyond repair. The sooner they accept this and give the people the election they want, the sooner the process of national recovery can begin.