Harris considering complaint over TD’S leak accusation
SIMON Harris has said he is “very strongly” considering making a complaint against a Sinn Fein TD for a “misuse” of Dail privilege.
Speaking during a heated debate on Wednesday, Matt Carthy accused the Fine Gael minister of leaking from Cabinet.
Minister Harris
DENIAL denied he was responsible and said the accusation was “completely untrue”.
He added: “It is quite extraordinary that someone would come into the Dail and misuse Dail privilege, abuse Dail privilege.
“Dail privilege is there for very specific reasons and it’s certainly not there to engage in tittle tattle.
“[Deputy Carthy] was making a very serious charge on the record of
the House in the absence of my presence because I was unavoidably somewhere else. It is untrue and it is a misuse of Dail privilege.”
In an interview on RTE, Mr Carthy said he stood by the accusation, despite admitting he had no evidence.
He stated: “I am aware of what I said and the exact wording of what I said and I am aware that it is general knowledge and generally accepted knowledge.
“My actions and my statement in the Dail was completely consistent with the principal and reason parliamentary privilege is in place.”
It has been reported a junior minister allegedly sought to find out who leaked the appointment of Katherine Zappone as a Special Envoy to a journalist.
Mr Harris said he was not aware of a sting operation against him and described it as an “interesting concept”.
He added: “I am also around Leinster House long enough to know that stories can get embellished.”