Reject call to amend Dáil record on Siteserv, urges Creighton

Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to "unequivocally reject" a demand that the record of the Dáil be amended in relation to construction services company Siteserv and businessman Denis O'Brien.

She claimed a letter from Siteserv calling for the record to be amended was an attempt to “interfere with the independence of the House” and “an attempt to silence the House”.

It related to remarks by Independent TD Catherine Murphy in the Dáil about Siteserv and about Mr O’Brien.

TDs have full legal privilege on their comments in the Dáil and cannot be sued.

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett said the issue was being dealt with by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges

During the Order of Business on Wednesday, Ms Creighton said: “I want to ask the Taoiseach to unequivocally reject the demand of Siteserv and Denis O’Brien to change the record of the House and interfere with the independence of the House.”

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett told the Dublin South East TD the issue should not be raised on the Order of Business.

‘Very important matter’

Ms Creighton said it was a “very important matter”, but Mr Barrett told her: “It may be very important, but it is not suitable for the Order of Business.”

Ms Creighton told the Taoiseach, however: “You are the defender of the Members of Dáil Éireann on behalf of the people of the country,” she said.

“The Taoiseach, as the leader of this country, needs to put on the record of the House his unequivocal defence of the interests of Members of this House,” she added.

Ms Creighton said there was an “attempt to silence Members of this House, as reported in newspapers over the weekend”.

She said it was an attempt to silence Independent TD Catherine Murphy, who repeatedly asked questions in the Dáil and sought information under the Freedom of Information legislation about the sale of Siteserv to Mr O’Brien’s Millington.

The Renua leader said it was also an attempt to “silence all members of the House”.

Mr Creighton added: “It is extremely important that democracy and free speech are defended.”

She called on the Taoiseach to “put on the record of the House his defence of the right of Members to speak freely and openly without fear or favour, and without putting corporate interests ahead of the interests of our citizens”.

When she said it was important for the Taoiseach to respond to her point, Mr Barrett said “not on the Order of Business”.

The Ceann Comhairle told her: “I will always defend the right of anybody to raise matters in this House provided they are in order and raised at the proper time.

“Any issues, like the one the Deputy has just mentioned, will be dealt with at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. If any action is to be taken it will be reported back.”

‘I do have a concern’

Ms Creighton said she did not doubt the Ceann Comhairle’s integrity “but I do have a concern”.

The Ceann Comhairle said “there is no question of silencing anybody in this House as long as I am in this chair”.

Ms Creighton persisted that “the Taoiseach has been noticeably silent on this issue. There has been no response from the Government.”

“That is a different issue,” the Ceann Comhairle told her.

Persisting, Ms Creighton said “there has been no reaction from the leader of the Government on an issue that goes to the very heart of our democracy, which is freedom of speech”.

Mr Barrett said she should respect the Order of Business and the issues that could be raised.

He told her he would consider the matter if she raised it on topical issues.