Howlin promises major probe into financial crash

A POWERFUL probe into the causes of the financial crash will be a priority if voters back a bid to boost the scope of Oireachtas investigations.

The wording of a constitutional amendment which, if passed, would give TDs and senators far more lee-way to launch inquiries into matters of national concern was unveiled last night by Public Sector Reform Minister Brendan Howlin.

The amendment is inten-ded to reverse the Abbeylara judgment, which stopped an Oireachtas probe into the shooting dead of John Carty at his home in the Longford town during a stand-off with gardaí in 2000.

That judgment meant no Oireachtas investigation could be pursued if the good name of any citizen might be impugned.

If approved, the constitutional amendment, to be voted on on the same day as the presidential election on October 27, would allow parliamentary probes to again make findings relating to individuals.

It would also allow the Oireachtas to set the “appropriate balance” between individual rights and the public interest.

Mr Howlin said this provision was needed to stop powerful people trying to “frustrate inquiries” with repeated appeals.

“People with sufficient resources can frustrate inquiries into their conduct for long periods of time, we need to have a balance,” he told RTÉ.

He indicated an investigation into the causes of the financial crash would be “one that would be high on the Oireachtas agenda”.

Mr Howlin said the reform is needed to bring the Oireachtas into line with other parliaments, to ensure investigations are cost-effective and carried out in good time.