Varadkar tackles Dáil privileges

LEO Varadkar has hinted that he will go to the Standards in Public Office Commission to ensure his fellow Dáil deputies don’t abuse their travel privileges.

The Transport Minister was dismissed by an Oireachtas committee when he sought clarifications about TDs who insist they shouldn’t be detained by gardaí while travelling to vote in the Dáil.

Road Safety Authority chairman Gay Byrne had written to Mr Varadkar, revealing that many people complained after it emerged that Independent TD for Roscommon, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, had his penalty points wiped from his driving licence.

Mr Byrne urged Mr Varadkar to seek clarification on the exact privileges enjoyed by deputies, but when the minister approached the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, he was told that it would not draw up guidelines because the CPP believed it was ‘inappropriate’.

Yesterday, Mr Varadkar stressed that the privilege enjoyed by deputies was enshrined in the Constitution for good reason, but said that it was not a facility to allow Oireachtas members to evade the law.

‘It is all about confidence and people having trust in the law and the law being applied equally to everyone,’ Mr Varadkar said.

‘So, I’m not at all happy that the CPP has decided not to get involved in this space.

‘It’s something that really should be issued – either guidance from them or from the Standards in Public Office Commission, as needs be.’

The SIPO, which is an independent body, has six members and is chaired by a former High Court judge.