The High Court has granted Fianna Fáil Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill leave to challenge aspects of an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission into expense claims made by him several years ago.
The action arises out of an investigation concerning travel and subsistence claims made by Sen Ó Domhnaill between 2006 and 2007, when he was a member of Donegal County Council.
As part of his High Court action, Sen Ó Domhnaill is seeking orders requiring the investigation to be carried out in Irish and that documents relating to the investigation be made available to him in Irish.
He claims his constitutional rights would be infringed unless this occurs.
Permission to bring the judicial review proceedings was granted yesterday, on an ex-parte basis (one side only represented), by Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill, who made the matter returnable to late next month.
The commission was due to begin a public session of its probe next Monday but this is not going ahead.
The proceedings are against the commission, the Minister for the Environment and the State.