Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for setting out the proposed Order of Business today. The item I wish to briefly raise is a proposal that we would have a motion regarding the Joint Report on the Response of the Houses of the Oireachtas to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Kerins v. McGuinness case. This is a profound piece of work. It has been a long time coming.

The Cathaoirleach, as chair of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, knows about this. This has come before us, we have no knowledge of it and there is no explanatory memorandum on it. I have said previously it would be helpful when bringing forward motions such as this one to have a small concise explanatory memorandum. We received this yesterday. I checked with the Oireachtas Library today and this report has been laid before the Houses. The timeframe is too tight.

I heard another Senator speak about coming with facts. I like to bring facts to the House too. Last night I read the Library service's Spotlight: The Decision of the Supreme Court in Kerins v McGuinness. I commend and recommend every Member of the House before they leave here today would contact the Library and get that document dated 30 October 2019. I do not intend to go into it now other than to say the Oireachtas Library and Research Service did an amazing report on these issues. These are profound issues regarding people coming before the Oireachtas. We need to have a discussion on this issue.

I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on it early in the new year, if possible. These matters will be in the media today, tomorrow and the next day, yet we in this House will not have discussed them. There is a problem when we will be reading in our national press about something as significant as this. This is a very significant case. It has major implications for outside bodies coming into these Houses. It has major implications for us and our responsibilities on Oireachtas joint committees. I ask Leader to facilitate a debate on this report early in the new year.