Sir, – Paddy Barry’s efforts (Letters, December 5th) to restrict the parliamentary privilege of TDs and senators has no basis in the Constitution.
Bunreacht na hÉireann makes no mention of using the privilege, “sparingly” or “only when the matter is one of the utmost seriousness” or indeed, “where no alternative” is available.
It says simply that comments in the House are “not amenable to any court or any authority, other than the House itself”.
Mr Barry’s version of parliamentary privilege would gag and stymie public representatives and force them to speak in euphemisms and circumlocutions.
I commend Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald’s intervention in this instance as it has placed on the public record a question of importance.
Anything less will see us repeat past patterns of everyone supposedly knowing something but no-one daring to say anything.
Legally and morally, Ms McDonald has no case to answer. – Yours, etc, CORMAC McMAHON Victoria, Australia.