No costs for Howlin over court ruling

Updated: 19:38, Tuesday, 17 January 2006

The Labour Party TD, Brendan Howlin, will not have to pay the costs of an action in the Supreme Court last month.

1 of 1Brendan Howlin - No order for costs
Brendan Howlin - No order for costs

The Labour Party TD, Brendan Howlin, will not have to pay the costs of an action in the Supreme Court last month.

The Supreme Court decision ruled that Mr Howlin would have to name the source of allegations made to him of improper actions by certain gardaí in Donegal.

The case arose after the Morris Tribunal made discovery orders requiring Mr Howlin to produce his telephone records.

The court held that there was no absolute constitutional privilege for members of the Oireachtas against production of documents in their possession to parties outside the Oireachtas.

The court upheld the Morris Tribunal's argument that Mr Howlin is not entitled by virtue of his position as a member of the Oireachtas to withhold the documents from it.

Today following legal argument, the Supreme Court granted costs to the Morris Tribunal against the Dáil Committee on Procedures and Privileges but made no order for costs against Mr Howlin personally.

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