Limits to privilege

SENATOR Terry Leyden (Letters, March 28) said I failed to “appreciate the importance of protecting parliamentary privilege” (Letters, March 12). Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, I wrote my initial letter (February 27) simply because I believe public confidence in parliamentary privilege would be undermined by any TD who attempts to invoke it in relation to his or her own personal business. This privilege was certainly not introduced so that the Taoiseach could be insulated from a certain line of tribunal questioning into his affairs.

If Senator Leyden wishes to reply (again), he should tackle this specific point. He has failed to do so to date.