Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould has been refused permission to address the Dáil with a personal statement in relation to a fraud allegation made against him.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy made the decision, saying she would consider a Dáil statement on the matter to be “inappropriate” and it “could interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation”.
Mr Gould was arrested over an alleged €150,000 fraud at a former employer.
[ Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould seeks chance to address Dáil over arrestOpens in new window ]
Following a report in The Irish Times last Saturday, Mr Gould confirmed he had been arrested by appointment the previous day and was released without charge.
Mr Gould has denied any wrongdoing and said he believed he would be vindicated following the Garda investigation.
A second Sinn Féin representative, Cork City councillor Kenneth Collins, was arrested in early January by appointment arising from the same investigation.
He was also released without charge and has denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation concerning a Cork-based company is understood to be focusing on the period from 2014 to 2019.
Both men were elected representatives at the time. Mr Collins was first elected for the party in 2014, while Mr Gould sat on Cork City Council between 2009 and 2020, when he was elected to the Dáil.
Gardaí are likely to take a number of months to complete a file for the DPP into alleged fraud offences.
In a statement issued in recent days by a legal representative, Mr Gould has said: “I am entirely innocent and reject the complaint which my former employer has made against me. I am confident that my position will be vindicated, having met with the investigating gardaí, where I made a detailed statement.”
On Monday Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Gould had given “a very detailed statement to the gardaí” and that he “emphatically rejects the accusations made against him”.
She confirmed Mr Gould had contacted the Ceann Comhairle to seek speaking time to address the matter when the Dáil resumes next week.
Ms Murphy has rejected Mr Gould’s request.
In a letter seen by The Irish Times, she told Mr Gould: “I understand that your solicitor has issued a comprehensive statement asserting your complete innocence and confirming that there is an ongoing Garda investigation.”
She also noted that none of the matters he referred to had been raised in the Dáil.
Ms Murphy added: “In circumstances where none of the allegations that give rise to this request have been raised in the Dáil and should not in present circumstances be raised by any member, I consider that it would be inappropriate and serve no useful purpose for you to make a personal statement on the matter.”
She added: “In addition, any attempt to raise this issue could interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation and thus potentially encroach upon the functions of the Courts and the administration of justice.”
Ms Murphy said: “It is considered that the public interest would not be served by having this matter ventilated in the Dáil chamber.”
She also said the ruling “in no way inhibits you from making any public statement on the matter in any other forum.”
In a statement released through his solicitor Shane Collins-Daly, Mr Gould said: “I requested to make a personal statement in the Dáil as I believe in accountability and honesty. I strongly reject the allegation that has been made against me. The Ceann Comhairle has declined my request. Therefore I cannot make a personal statement.”
Sinn Féin declined to comment.
