Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Kenny. At its meeting of 8 October, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission agreed to sponsor the tabling of motions in both Houses, in accordance with section 4(2)(f)(iv) and (v) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 and 2006, to authorise the defence of proceedings on behalf of Deputy McDaid and Senator Keaveney arising out of the performance of their parliamentary functions as Members of the Houses. It is the first time since the establishment of the commission these provisions have come into play. In its meeting of 12 November, the commission approved the text of the motion to be put to the Dáil and the Seanad.

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