Greens say McDowell's release of papers is abuse of powers

Press Release: Justice 12 December 2005

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases

12 December 2005

Green Party says McDowell’s release of confidential papers is abuse of his powers

The Green Party has stated that the Minister for Justice has abused his powers in releasing confidential documents from a Garda file to Independent Newspapers.

Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated that, “This is a dangerous use of Ministerial power that could be perceived as Ministerial intervention in a particular case that has been with the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is important to note that the DPP did not proceed with a prosecution. It is a bad precedent.

“The Centre for Public Inquiry has performed a useful task in publishing important and ground-breaking reports on planning issues with a political dimension.

“One must ask whether the Minister would be so quick to run to the media if he had confidential information relating to the issues that the Centre has investigated.

“Mr. Connolly must also further clarify his own activities, but the misuse of Ministerial office by Michael McDowell TD is deeply disturbing,” concluded Deputy Cuffe.

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.