Leader moves motion to consider removal of judge

Seanad Report: Two apparent errors were made by the leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, in moving arrangements for consideration…

Seanad Report: Two apparent errors were made by the leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, in moving arrangements for consideration of the removal from office of Judge Brian Curtin.

Contrary to a motion laid before the House, which stated the address of a Mr Curtin as 35 Ashe Street, Tralee, Co Kerry, Mrs O'Rourke said it was number 25. Detailing why the judge should be removed from office for stated misconduct, she said that the contention was that the Director of Public Prosecutions had instructed that Judge Curtin be prosecuted for knowingly having in his possession child pornography contrary to section 8 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

However, the motion listed on the Seanad order paper referred to section 6 of the Act.

The motion drew no adverse reaction from the Opposition, and further debate on it was adjourned.

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Stating that not all forms of corporate greed necessarily involved either legal or ethical wrongdoing as such, Dr Martin Mansergh (FF) said he had been shocked at the level of the monetary increases received by a chairman, chief executive and director of a newspaper.

All members of the House were naturally disturbed at what had been happening in some of our financial institutions, he said. But he thought that they needed to keep things in perspective.

Referring to an article in last Tuesday's Irish Independent, Dr Mansergh said it had been headed "Crocodile tears mask a culture of greed."

In the same newspaper yesterday a director of Corporate Governance had talked about the effect of very low standards in public and corporate life. "I do find it shocking that a chairman, chief executive and director of a newspaper should receive annual increases last year of 40, 50, and 67 per cent. I think we need a good example from the top."