Dr. Elaine Byrne:

All this is in the public domain. I refer to particular prominent politicians receiving money on the day of the election, individuals going to their houses and giving them the money, or donations being benefits in kind, being free cars or facilities or whatever it may be. We often get caught up on the brown envelope thing to the effect that a donation or something like that is a quid pro quo. Often, however, it is indirect and is a case of doing someone a favour and thereafter, down along the line, that person will return the favour in an indistinct way. Were one intent on committing corruption, one would no longer be doing it the old-fashioned way. I mean giving money for a favour committed because these things can be traced. What the Moriarty tribunal in particular exposed was benefits in kind through different land transactions that may have arisen. Decisions were made and perhaps down along the line, certain benefits were conferred on individuals. Corruption is not black and white and is not direct. It is indirect and these relationships are very difficult to examine.