The Oireachtas Committee of Justice, Equality and Women's Rights had a brief formal meeting in public yesterday at which it decided to publish the Chief Justice's report on the Sheedy case and refer it to the Oireachtas for its consideration.
This followed a private meeting which lasted almost two hours during which the members read the report. The meeting was attended for a time by the committee's legal adviser, Mr Kevin Feeney.
When it met in public the chairman of the committee, Mr Eoin Ryan, said its members had decided to table the report without further comment, along with a letter it had received from Mr Justice Hugh O'Flaherty, which he read into the record.
Mr Jim Higgins (FG) proposed the publication of the report, with Mr Justice O'Flaherty's letter appended to it. "This is a very serious situation. Our deliberations must be informed by proper procedures," he said, adding that he thanked the Chief Justice for drawing up the report.
It was a very factual report, of unprecedented constitutional significance.
In terms of action to be taken, it was for the Government to make a recommendation to the Oireachtas, he said.
Mr Brendan Howlin (Lab) said he endorsed the proposal to publish the report and the letter. This was a very serious matter and in the first instance should be considered by the Oireachtas itself, which should be at the earliest possible opportunity.
"The independence of the Oireachtas is challenged. There is the separation of powers. There are legal difficulties, but I would be anxious that the Oireachtas look at it in an open and fair way.
"The object is that every citizen in Ireland have full confidence in the administration of justice," he added.
Mr Ryan said there was no doubt that the Minister for Justice would make a statement on Tuesday. "We have no instructions to take this any further." After the committee formally agreed to publish the report, he adjourned the meeting.