Vital tool for democracy is protected - Dáil committee vindicated

“The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech in parliament, not to protect parliament, but the democratic process in itself" - President of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly

YESTERDAY’S ruling in the Angela Kerins’ case is very significant and, in these extraordinary times, reassuring.

The former Rehab Group boss failed to secure a declaration that the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) breached her Constitutional rights. She claimed that “bullying, harassment and persecution” by the PAC in 2014, forced her to attempt suicide. She had sued for a declaration that her rights had been set aside and sought damages.