Taoiseach criticised for ‘silence’ on IBRC controversy

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has defended his refusal to recall the Dáil last week to discuss the controversy surrounding the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC).

Mr Kenny, in heated exchanges with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, said he had five public engagements on the Friday and the same on the Saturday and Sunday.

"There was a case before the High Court, '' he added. "This House could have met on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday... and talked itself around in circles.''

Mr Kenny said the House had no authority and function interfering with last week’s court case which upheld the right of the media to report on issues covered by Dáil privilege.

“I was very happy to see the judge clarify the rights and privileges of elected members of this House, as protected under the Constitution,’’ he added.

Mr Martin said Mr Kenny had been silent on the issue over five days in which the media had been forced to be silent.

“You did not criticise the media blackout, you did not defend the right of a member of this House to raise issues of public interest,’’ he added. He said Independent TD Catherine Murphy, who raised the issue, had been called “a liar and a thief’’ in the public debate that ensued.

“You went into hiding, Taoiseach, and many, many people across the country could not understand why the Taoiseach of the country would not come forward and support unequivocally and in public Dáil privilege,’’ he added.

“Is it because Mr Denis O’Brien was leading the legal challenge you remained silent ?’’

Mr Martin asked him if he was “scared’’ of Mr O’Brien.

Mr Martin said Ms Murphy had made a Dáil contribution on the issue based on "reliable and robust'' sources. She said the IBRC had given very low interest rates to Mr O'Brien.

“Within minutes of this being reported, the shutters came down on almost all media outlets from reporting what Deputy Murphy said…something which was in the public interest and something which was also covered by absolute privilege under Article 15 of the Constitution,’’ he added.