O'Malley says Dunne, Lowry Bill a disaster

A GOVERNMENT Bill being brought speedily into law to assist the investigation into the Dunne Lowry affair will in fact "neuter" the investigation, it was claimed yesterday.

Mr Des O'Malley of the Progressive Democrats, was speaking during a special meeting of a sub committee of the Dail Committee on Finance and General Affairs, held to speed up the Committee Stage of the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Witnesses) Bill, 1995.

The Report Stage of the Bill is to be completed next Thursday. The Bill allows the sub committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which is investigating the Dunne/Lowry affair, to compel witnesses.

Mr O'Malley said the "pages and pages" of exemptions would be "used to the full in the courts to challenge the work of the committee". It was a "disaster".