Seanad row over unexpected majority for Opposition on banking inquiry

There were stormy scenes in the Seanad and repeated adjournments in a heated row over the Opposition having a majority on the proposed banking inquiry and Fine Gael claims that Fianna Fáil's nominee "might have a conflict of interest".

The inquiry team of nine Oireachtas members, seven TDs and two Senators, will meet for the first time in private session on Wednesday.

The Government planned to have a majority on the committee but this came undone on Wednesday when the Seanad Committee of Selection chose two Opposition Senators, Fianna Fáil’s Marc Mac Sharry and Independent Seán Barrett. They were selected after Labour’s favoured candidate Senator Susan O’Keeffe failed to attend.

In the Seanad yesterday a row erupted and the House had to be adjourned three times after Seanad leader Maurice Cummins said the matter should be referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for investigation.

“Conflict of interest”

Mr Cummins said “it has come to my notice that it has been suggested Senator Mac Sharry may have a conflict of interest”.

Pressed by Mr Mac Sharry to outline the conflict of interest – “It is only reasonable the leader might do the house the service, and me the courtesy of outlining the conflict of interests he refers to” – Mr Cummins said: “I have no intention of doing that.”

But Fianna Fáil Seanad leader Darragh O'Brien warned the Government side that what it was doing was "very serious" and the procedures committee, chaired by the Seanad cathaoirleach, "has no role in the Committee of Selection".

The Government side wants a full vote of the Seanad on the selection of members but a decision of the selection committee has not previously been challenged.

Mr O’Brien had earlier called on the Seanad leader to confirm the Government would accept the two Senators “without political interference”.

When Fianna Fáil’s Thomas Byrne said the cathaoirleach never allowed “the character of members to be traduced”, Mr Cummins said he did not question the character of any member and he called for Mr Byrne to withdraw that allegation.

Fianna Fáil’s Diarmuid Wilson said it was his understanding that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges had no function in determining whether somebody had a conflict of interest. Mr Cummins said “this matter relates to suitability”.

Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke said that the procedure for dealing with perception of bias included placing written submissions and supporting evidence before the privileges committee.

After further heated exchanges and three adjournments, Mr Cummins said “it was only ever my intention to have the information I received considered by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges before any appointment to the committee of inquiry was ratified”.

“I had no intention at any stage of impugning any Senator’s integrity.”