Former TD Colm Keaveney, who has sought to be indemnified by the Oireachtas in a defamation action taken by billionaire Denis O'Brien, has been asked for more information. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which oversees how proceedings of the House are run, discussed the request of the former Fianna Fail TD for Galway East this week.

Mr O'Brien alleges that, motivated by malice, Mr Keaveney defamed him in a Dáil speech in June 2015, a version of which was shared with a third party before it was delivered. Mr Keaveney denies the accusation and says that in any event, he was protected by parliamentary privilege.

Mr Keaveney argues that constitutional protection is expressed in the Dáil’s standing orders and this protection extends to a TD’s private Dáil papers or for their role as a public representation.

Mr Keaveney holds that it is in the Dáil, and its members’ own interests, that they join his fight with Mr O’Brien. It is unclear what further information the committee is seeking from Mr Keaveney.

Mr O’Brien is also suing the committee, claiming it failed to uphold his rights by not sanctioning TDs who attacked him in the Dáil.