Law clear on Dáil privilege, says State

Denis O’Brien has no constitutional right to “personal satisfaction” by having the courts declare some “impropriety” by two TDs in making Dáil statements about his banking affairs, counsel for a Dáil committee has told the High Court.

There is “no constitutional right to satisfaction” and there would be “appalling consequences” if the courts sought to examine or restrain statements made in the Dáil, Michael Collins said.

The Constitution made “absolutely clear” that Dáil statements, including by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty, about Mr O’Brien’s banking affairs, cannot be examined by any court except the “court of public opinion”.