Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

He has served the country with great distinction in recent years, particularly in recent months. While we all welcome the Government's appointment of Ms O'Reilly to the new post, we must ask the reason the appointment was not advertised. While the President appoints the Information Commissioner or Ombudsman, will the Leader inform us when the necessary resolution, which has to be put before both Houses, will come before this House? Is it normal that there would be no public advertisement of the post? It seems Ms O'Reilly, a very notable and distinguished journalist, was plucked from her career.

Yesterday the Government refused to indemnify Senator Higgins and Deputy Howlin in respect of their upcoming High Court case against the ruling of the Morris tribunal. Does the Leader believe it would be useful and timely to hold a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss this important new development? If so, when are we likely to hold it? In the light of the meetings of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to support the case of the Senator and Deputy, the fact that the case is not receiving the proper financial support of the Government by way of indemnification leads to totally new circumstances. The committee should meet to discuss the issue and inform the House who will provide the necessary financial backing and indemnification. The case is not just being taken on the part of the Deputy and Senator but on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas because of a fundamental principle or right which we believe is enshrined in the Constitution.