Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Congratulations to Martin on his appointment as Clerk of Seanad Éireann. Well done. It is well deserved. Most of all, enjoy it, if you can.

I refer to the legal challenge which was made against the operation of the Committee of Public Accounts, alleged to have been a witch-hunt against the previous CEO of Rehab Group. I welcome the finding that the court had no power to intervene in utterances, comments, observances, expressions, etc. made by Members of the Oireachtas in the Houses as set out by the Constitution. I do not think that any of us were in any doubt that this would be the finding, and I am glad that the separation of powers of the Legislature has been respected and reinforced. It is of paramount importance that we have the power in this House, the Lower House and the committees to investigate matters of public importance, to uphold the public interest and to protect our constitutional democracy. There are further judgments due and pending in the near future, and I am sure we all look forward to these findings with interest.