John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I understand that in any court case the evidential burden will shift when one side has been heard and the other has not. Unfortunately, an unethical procedure in this House saw Senator Regan passing on evidence from one side of a case as a fact. As a senior counsel, this would be unethical behaviour in his own profession and it is unethical in this House. Under no circumstances, when the evidential burden has not shifted and a person has not had the opportunity to answer charges, should a person take the initial charge as a fact of the court and present it in this House as a court decision. This is unethical behaviour given Senator Regan's position as a barrister and Senator.