Senator Mullen dissatisfied with statement from Seanad Committee on Members’ Interests

23.8.10

Senator Rónán Mullen has expressed dissatisfaction at this evening’s statement from the Seanad Committee on Member’s Interests, which while dismissing a complaint brought by the ‘People before Profit’ organisation against him, fails to acknowledge the possible damage caused to his reputation by the Committee’s own handling of the complaint.

“There was never any doubt but that this complaint would be dismissed. It’s a case of ‘better late than later’. But I am surprised at the Committee’s response. They have bungled this case for two weeks, failing to dismiss a vexatious complaint and seemingly content to allow the public to get the false impression that there were questions about my expenses. They had all the information they needed two weeks ago to realise that this complaint was vexatious.”

“The Committee has important work to do. But we need to ask whether it is acceptable to deal with any complaint, however vexatious or unfounded, in a manner that puts people’s reputations unnecessarily in issue.

“By its failure to acknowledge its mishandling of this case, the Committee has set a bad precedent.”