Mary Lou McDonald defends use of Dáil privilege

Sinn Féin TD calls on Taoiseach to defend constitutional protection

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald has again defended her use Dáil privilege to name former politicians who were accused of having offshore bank accounts to evade tax

In an Irish Times piece on Tuesday, businessman Denis O’Brien was critical of Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin’s support of Independent TD Catherine Murphy’s use of Dáil privilege but not of Ms McDonald’s Dáil statement.

Ms Murphy made comments in the Dáil about banking arrangements between Mr O’Brien and the IRBC, formerly Anglo Irish Bank.

“What I find curious is that Deputy Martin would lambaste Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald for releasing the names of individuals wrongly associated with the Ansbacher tax-avoidance scheme,” Mr O’Brien wrote.

“I have never seen the Fianna Fáil leader as animated as he shot from both barrels last December in the Dáil at Deputy McDonald over the totally unacceptable releasing of alleged ‘Ansbacher names’ of former cabinet and Fianna Fáil colleagues.

“I have real sympathy for those named.”

However, Ms McDonald said she stood her over he decision to name the six prominent politicians. “I don’t accept for a second that I abused by privilege,” she said.

The Oireachtas Committee on Procedures and Privileges ruled that the Sinn Féin TD’s use of Dáil privilege to name former politicians last December was an abuse.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader told RTÉ radio on Tuesday she would not apologise for “doing her job” and naming the politicns.

Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach or Tánaiste should make a robust statement in defence of Dáil privilege following the Mr O’Brien and Ms Murphy controversy.

A spokesman for Joan Burton said on Monday night: “The Tánaiste believes that the constitutional protection for TDs and senators to speak freely in the Dáil and Seanad on matters of concern – and for the media to report it – is an absolute cornerstone of our democracy.”