Denis O’Brien wants power demarcated

Businessman Denis O’Brien wants the courts to “clearly demarcate” the powers of the Oireachtas and courts in his “unique” action over Dáil statements by two TDs about his banking affairs, the High Court has heard.

The case is “unique in the history of the State” because nobody has previously sued alleging statements made by TDs in the Dáil effectively decided the outcome of court proceedings, Michael Cush SC said.

Those statements showed “clear disregard” for the separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary guaranteed by the Constitution and Mr O’Brien wanted the court to decide “where the boundary lies”.