Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has said a decision by businessman Denis O’Brien to sue the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and its members, including himself, is “outrageous” and that the Oireachtas body will defend itself.

Taxpayers will be told today they must fund the Dáil public accounts committee’s legal defence against ousted Rehab chief executive Angela Kerins, who is taking a case over claims she was mistreated by the body.

TAXPAYERS will have to fork out over €20 million in pay-offs for the losers they dump from the Dáil at the looming General Election, it emerged last night.