Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Eamon Ryan and all other Deputies for their contributions. I want to respond to two of the points that have been raised. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, rightly, raised the question of the release of the report. It was released to every Member at the same time having been laid before the House. If the media had it earlier, they had it because it was leaked to them by a member of the Committee on Procedure. Last week we published a report on harassment in the workplace. It was sent to Members at 5.20 p.m. and made the 9 p.m. news before the committee had met to consider it. I put it to the Deputies who were responsible for the leaks that they might examine their conscience and wonder about taking the high moral ground.

On the question of sanctions, I will repeat what I said this morning. The question of sanctions, if there are to be sanctions, is for this House and it alone to decide. Because a complaint has been made under the ethics Act, the matter must be considered first by the Committee on Members' Interests and due process must be followed. I am afraid that those who want to see some sanction taking place today will be disappointed because due process must be followed.

I say to ordinary people who are asking about this issue that we are all ordinary people, but we are ordinary people charged with extraordinary responsibilities which Members should take seriously.

See this speech in context