PAC seeks ‘root and branch examination’ by courts of its powers

The Dáil’s public accounts committee is seeking a “root and branch examination” by the courts concerning its jurisdiction and powers of inquiry, the president of the High Court has said.

John Rogers, counsel for former Rehab chief executive Angela Kerins, said while his side believed those issues have already been addressed in judgments including of the Supreme Court halting an Oireachtas sub-committee’s inquiry into the shooting dead by gardaí of John Carthy at Abbeylara in 2000, he could not object to PAC’s application.

In its 5-2 Abbeylara majority decision, the Supreme Court ruled the Oireachtas has no power to conduct an inquiry capable of leading to adverse findings of fact against citizens which would impugn their good names.