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Call for Dáil recall over O'Brien controversy
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for the Dáil to be recalled in the light of what he claimed had been the silencing of media outlets in relation to comments about businessman Denis O'Brien by Independent TD Catherine Murphy yesterday.
The subject of her remarks is at the centre of an injunction granted against RTÉ earlier this month and cannot be reported by the broadcaster.
Mr Martin said in a statement that it was unprecedented that a matter of serious public interest raised in the Dáil could not be reported on by the national broadcaster or other media outlets.
Speaking to RTÉ, Fianna Fáil spokesperson on health Billy Kelleher said the matter raises grave concern for freedom of speech and the independence of the Dáil.
A spokesman for Mr O'Brien insisted that individuals, no matter who they were, had an entitlement to their good name and privacy relating to their financial affairs.
James Morrissey questioned the accuracy of what Ms Murphy had said, maintaining Dáil privilege had an important role but could not be abused to have falsehoods misrepresented as facts.
Mr Morrisey said a core principle of a democracy is the right of every individual to their good name and reputation and it was important that people "stand up for democracy inside the Dáil and outside the Dáil".
He said Mr O'Brien had sought an injunction against RTÉ as "a point of principle".
Responding to a request by Mr Kelleher to recall the Dáil over Ms Murphy's allegations, Mr Morrissey said it was "a little bit rich from Deputy Kelleher" as Fianna Fáil never did that when this country was "going down the tubes."
Mr Morrissey said: "There had always been a separation of powers but a fundamental and core principle of a democracy is the right of every individual to their good name and reputation and privacy in matters that are private."
When responding to an article that appeared in today's Guardian concerning press freedom in Ireland, Mr Morrissey said that RTÉ was "the largest media entity in Ireland".
Mr Morrissey said if there is wrongdoing involved it should be examined and investigated, but until then Mr O'Brien was entitled to his good name.
He also pointed out Mr O'Brien's record of job creation in Ireland.
Mr Kelleher earlier told RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke that he has written to the Ceann Comhairle calling for the Dáil to be recalled over the allegations.
He wants the Dáil to discuss the fact that what she said, under Dáil privilege, cannot be reported.
He said the matter raises grave concern for freedom of speech and the independence of the Dáil.
He said he would like the Dáil to reassert its validity as a chamber of free speech, and a chamber that upholds democracy.
Mr Kelleher said the principle of a parliament being unafraid to speak is critically important and fundamental to any democracy.
He added that it is important that issues in the Dáil can be reported by the media and he said it would be very disturbing if we now have a situation, whereby journalists cannot report and comment on the Dáil.
He said that any attempt to block the reporting of something said in the Dáil by a TD is an attack on the basic essence of democracy.
Mr Kelleher said the issue here is not the actual substance of the debate, but the freedom for journalists and others to be able to report exactly what is said in the Dáil.
Mr Kelleher said if an issue raised by a TD turns out to be wrong or what they have raised in the Dáil is not in the public interest, then sanctions should be placed on that individual by the Dáil.
Renua has said it would like to express its total support for Ms Murphy.
Renua leader Lucinda Creighton said: "We wish to express grave concern over the restrictions placed on the tax-payer funded state broadcaster RTE in covering this issue.
"We wish to express grave concern over the courts definition of the public interest and what is of public interest" she continued.
'Defining moment' for media
The National Union of Journalists has criticised the media for not publishing the statement Ms Murphy made in the Dáil last night.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley warned that faith in the media would be "shattered if proprietors and editors did not challenge threats to parliamentary democracy and freedom of expression".
Mr Dooley said: "It is gravely concerning that media organisations felt constrained from publishing the comments, made under Dáil privilege, by Deputy Catherine Murphy concerning financial matters relating to Mr Denis O'Brien and his alleged relationship with IBRC.
"The fact that the national public service broadcaster was constrained from broadcasting material freely available on the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas, and that other print and broadcasting organisations felt similarly constrained, raises fundamental questions about our parliamentary democracy and the right of the media to report freely on parliamentary proceedings.
"A courageous stand in defence of the right to report parliamentary proceedings would have served the public interest. Faith in the media's ability to do its job will be shattered if this challenge is not faced head on. This is a defining moment for the media in Ireland."
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