Dáil opposes O’Brien request

The Dáil is opposing a request from businessman Denis O’Brien for voluntary discovery of documents for his action over speeches made in the Dáil about his banking affairs with IBRC.

Mr O’Brien claims there is a “clear public interest” in the courts determining whether Dáil utterances by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty last summer effectively determined his legal action against RTÉ aimed at restraining publication of details of those banking affairs.

He claims the Dáil, its Committee on Procedures and Privileges, and the State caused and permitted the utterances to be made in breach of his rights of privacy and access to the courts under the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights; his right to fair procedures; and of the standing orders regulating debate in the Oireachtas.

This amounted to “unwarranted interference” by the Oireachtas with the operation of the courts “in a purely judicial domain”, it is alleged.

The claims are denied.

When the case was mentioned to High Court Deputy Master Angela Denning yesterday, she was told there is a dispute over the discovery sought by Mr O’Brien’s side. No details of that were outlined in court.

The Deputy Master fixed February 9 to deal with discovery applications by either side.