Seanad debates

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

3:00 pm

Photo of Paul CoghlanPaul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Some important points were made by Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole with which I fully agree. On the question of privilege, we all believe and would accept it is vitally important that the private papers of Members of both Houses would be protected. As Senator Brian Hayes noted, we all believe the Members involved in this action acted properly in going to the then Minister with the information they possessed rather than putting statements on the record of the House. Members must be protected. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes's argument that we will go down a very dangerous route for democracy if they are not protected.

Whatever judgment is handed down by the Supreme Court with regard to the case of Judge Brian Curtin, the matter will come back to the Oireachtas committee. I agree with Senator O'Toole that the Government must act more directly in dealing with this matter rather than hide behind the committee because it will be challenged at every step. I fully support the points made by Senator O'Toole and Senator Brian Hayes.

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