Select Committee on Legislation and Security of Dáil Éireann (Privilege and Immunity) Bill, 1994

Public bill · Government · Presented

The measure gave people who gave evidence or supplied documents to the Dáil Select Committee on Legislation and Security protections equivalent to those available to witnesses in the High Court. Statements, admissions and documents provided to the committee could not generally be used against the person in criminal proceedings, even if the hearings were public, broadcast or reported. The committee was required to protect the good name, character and constitutional rights of witnesses and other people involved, and could delegate its work to a subcommittee. The arrangement applied to the committee’s investigation into events surrounding the appointment of the High Court President, the Brendan Smyth case, and related advice and statements made by the Taoiseach and Government figures in November 1994.

Last updated 10 June 2020