A dignified response: Ceann Comhairle concedes

CEANN Comhairle Seán Barrett has done our political process, and his own reputation, some service by acknowledging that the claims he made about a concerted attempt to undermine him were intemperate. 

His statement to the Dáil yesterday afternoon showed a humility and a dignity too often absent from our political affairs.

Mr Barrett also clarified the situation by declaring that “he did not come under any pressure on reaching a decision not to allow a debate in the Dáil on the establishment of an inquiry into Garda malpractices”.

It seems clear that he was following precedent and advice, even if that advice was more limiting than it needed to be.

It is reassuring, too, that the disagreements of recent days will lead to a Committee on Procedures and Privileges review of the Dáil’s standing order 57 — the one that led Mr Barrett to preclude a debate on garda malpractice claims.

The affair underlines again — as does the banking inquiry — how few options are open to our parliament to investigate matters of public interest.

The last attempt to rectify this weakness was rejected by referendum but it seems rational to suggest that today’s unsatisfactory situation — one that serves nobody but those with something to hide — will continue until our parliament is given real powers of investigation.

The affair also underlines how ham-fisted and obstructive many of our parliamentary protocols are.