Gilmore defends two TDs criticised by Morris tribunal

LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore called on the Dáil's Committee on Procedure and Privileges to consider the criticism of two TDs by the Morris tribunal report.

He said that the report had "enormous implications'' for members of the House.

"My party and I fully stand over and support the actions taken by our colleague, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and former deputy Jim Higgins and the way in which they handled the information provided for them," he said.

The tribunal's report, published on Tuesday, called for a review of the manner in which Oireachtas members deal with allegations brought to their attention by "whistleblowers". Mr Howlin, Labour TD for Wexford, and Mr Higgins, who is now Fine Gael MEP for the North West, rejected the criticism.

Mr Gilmore told the Dáil that many Oireachtas members came into possession of information on matters such as child abuse and other problems.

"The idea that an individual member of the House would have to conduct some kind of private investigation into material brought before him or her has serious implications for all of us.''

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said a Dáil debate on the report was a matter for the party whips to decide. "I do not want to comment on anything contained in the report," he said.

Labour justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte referred to criticism of Mr Howlin and Mr Higgins by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.

He accused Mr Ahern of managing "to abstract reference to the two members who caused the Morris tribunal to be established and whose offence is that they went in private to the then minister for justice, equality and law reform".

He added that Mr Ahern could not "pass a sleeping dog without kicking it".