Sir, – Edward Horgan (April 11th) is correct when he says that politicians are elected to uphold the interests of the people, but of course that includes the rights of the individuals Mary Lou McDonald named.
The freedom of expression granted to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas is indeed a huge privilege and we should be able to trust our elected representatives to use it responsibly. That any member or grouping within the Oireachtas would promote the idea that their grasp of the national interest is so righteous and all-encompassing that it gives them licence to make pejorative comment on individual citizens is an idea that is inimical to democracy itself.
The Oireachtas Committee on Procedures and Privileges is not, as Mr Horgan alleges, attempting to restrict the use of Dáil privilege. It is seeking to protect it by censuring politicians who recklessly abuse it. – Yours, etc,
JOE AHERN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.