Rights of TDs ‘trumps O’Brien’

Former attorney general Michael McDowell has said that the rights of TDs to speak out must trump tycoon Denis O’Brien’s bid to keep banking arrangements secret.

The ex-PD leader and justice minister waded into the parliamentary privilege controversy as he said that he expected the courts to rule that the Oireachtas had foremost rights in this area.

“Oireachtas privilege over comments wherever published should trump the private interests of Denis O’Brien in relation to business borrowings from a bank,” Mr McDowell told RTÉ.