Fianna Fáil has tabled a Dáil motion of censure against Minister for Justice Alan Shatter contending that he misled the Oireachtas over the Smithwick Tribunal.
The party’s justice spokesman Dara Calleary last night wrote to Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett asked for the motion to be moved in the Dáil today and seeking Government time to debate it.
In the letter Mr Calleary asserts that the chairman of the tribunal, Judge Peter Smitwick, wrote to Mr Shatter “clearly objecting to the impact of new deadlines on the tribunal’s work” which had been set out by Government.
The Cabinet decided at the end of May that the tribunal would be required to furnish an interim report at the end of June and a final report by the end of November this year.
Mr Calleary has claimed that the tribunal chairman wrote to Mr Shatter before the motion to impose the deadlines was debated in the Dáil and the Seanad, setting out his concerns about the potential effect it would have on the tribunal including the possible withdrawal of a vital witness.
Fianna Fáil has argued that this information should have been conveyed to the Oireachtas during the debate.
“The Minister for Justice withheld this information from the Dáil and Seanad while guillotining the relevant motion on June 1st,” stated Mr Calleary in his letter to the Ceann Comhairle.
The matter was also raised by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in the Dáil yesterday, who described it as a “serious scandal”. He accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Mr Shatter of misleading the Dáil.
“Documents were withheld from members of the House. The debate took place in the context of documents not being made available. Now, in the aftermath of the debate, we find that the most serious of concerns had been raised by the chairman," said Mr Martin.
Mr Kenny responded that he did not believe any scandal was involved.
“It is only right and proper that while respecting the right of the sole Chair and his independence in doing his job, at the same time the taxpayer, who funds this, should be entitled to a progress report at intervals as to how the tribunal is progressing,” he said.
