Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn, has today resigned from the Public Accounts Committee following the failure of her libel action against RTE last Friday.
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Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn
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The Fianna Fáil TD for Co Mayo said in a statement that due to the result of the libel trial, she thought it appropriate to resign from the Committee and informed its chairman Mr Jim Mitchell of her decision this morning.
Ms Cooper-Flynn was suing RTE journalist Mr Charlie Bird and retired farmer Mr James Howard for libel she alleged resulted from broadcasts aired between June and July 1998, in which it was claimed she had sold financial products to assist tax evasion, while working at National Irish Bank.
Ms Cooper-Flynn had denied the allegation and said her reputation had been damaged as a result of the programmes.
Last Friday, however, the jury at the High Court found that Ms Cooper-Flynn had not been libeled and did not award damages.
Although they believed RTÉ had not proven its allegations that she had sold CMI products to Mr Howard, the jury did find she had encouraged or advised other persons to evade tax and therefore had not suffered injury to her reputation due to the broadcasts.
Labour party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn has welcomed Ms Cooper-Flynn's resignation but said it did not dissolve the responsibility of either the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste to make their views known on the case.
He said the jury's findings were of a "most serious nature" and suggested Ms Cooper-Flynn consider her position as a member of the Dáil.
Mr Quinn added that although this was a decision for Ms Cooper-Flynn, he was certain she would respect the Taosieach's opinion should he voice it.