Ahern’s court move not on a point of principle

UPHOLDING standards of accountability in the Dáil is critically important to our democracy — so Bertie Ahern’s decision to take action against the Mahon Tribunal in the High Court has to be seen in a negative light.

A number of TDs have made statements relating to matters also investigated outside of the Dáil. Ray Burke made such a statement on September 10, 1997.

If the claim made that no TD should voluntarily waive parliamentary privilege holds, as the Taoiseach maintains, this would have serious implications.