The survival of the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, in Government says more about the paralysis of the Taoiseach's leadership than his willingness to forgive. In other western democracies, Mr Smith's rejection of a collective Cabinet decision on the restructuring of hospital services would have been a resigning or sacking matter. The humiliation of Mr Ahern in the Dáil, as a result of the Minister's intransigence on the issue, would certainly have sealed his fate. But Mr Smith has survived on the strength of a grudging apology.
The Taoiseach always had a problem with direct political action. But heads of government are expected to lead. To do that, they must impose discipline. And discipline has been sadly lacking in recent times, both in Government and on the Fianna Fáil back benches. And the constitutional requirement for Cabinet members to be collectively bound by Government decisions has been gradually eroded. Now there is trouble over the Hanly report on hospital reform.
There has always been a tendency for Fianna Fáil backbenchers to drop into opposition mode when unpopular Government decisions are taken. That can pay political dividends, provided the dissent is limited to verbal reassurances for an irate electorate. But when senior ministers attempt to curry favour by opposing formal Cabinet decisions, the very foundation of government is undermined. The knock-on effect of such dissent was evident at the weekend when a Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Tony Killeen, marched with protesting constituents in Ennis over the loss of accident and emergency services there.
Mr Smith has served in various cabinets for the best part of 10 years. He knows the rules. Last Monday in Nenagh, he allowed a party colleague to support Government policy before he publicly repudiated the recommendations of the Hanly report for the local hospital. The following day the Taoiseach attempted to excuse this blatant departure from collective Cabinet responsibility by saying that the Minister was only putting forward views on "demographics and geographics". But, within hours, Mr Smith was assuring local people there was "no need to sacrifice them on the altar of the Hanly report".
It took until Friday for the Taoiseach to assert his authority. Even then, the statement and letter issued by Mr Smith had all the appearance of a Bandaid. The Minister insisted he had no intention of breaching collective Cabinet responsibility. And he accepted fully the "core principles" of the Hanly report. In the circumstances, it was a fudge.
The Taoiseach did not wish to have an early Cabinet reshuffle. That will take place after the local and European elections, in June, when Fianna Fáil is expected to do badly. Mr Smith will survive in Government until then, when his departure may help to relieve pressure on Mr Ahern's leadership. It may be clever politics, but it suggests a leader under pressure, who is desperately buying time.