A TD who is reported to have provided a character reference for a man convicted of sexual exploitation should identify themselves, according to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said they were unaware of the identity of the TD involved, reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin said he would not engage in a “witch hunt” but believes any TD who provided such a reference should come forward.
The Tánaiste noted that legislation has recently been updated to strengthen rules around character references, requiring them to be submitted under oath or by affidavit, reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, said the idea of submitting anonymous references to a court is unacceptable.
“This idea that you can anonymously or cowardly hide behind references into a court is not acceptable – that’s why we changed the law. The member of Dáil Éireann who did this should come forward and let us know who it is,” he said, reports Breaking News.
He added that he intends to verify whether the individual is a member of his party.
“I’m going to check that it’s not a member of my party. I have no knowledge that it’s a government TD, an opposition TD, I don’t know who it is. And I think if somebody has done it, I think they should come forward – but certainly no one in my party has contacted me as party leader,” reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris said he has asked Fine Gael general secretary John Carroll to contact all party TDs to seek assurances.
He also suggested that other party leaders should take similar steps, reports Breaking News.
Asked if he would do similar for Fianna Fáil, Martin said: “I’m not going to go on a particular witch hunt on anybody. I mean, that may come up in due course. I don’t know who the TD is, and that issue is very unclear,” reports Breaking News.
He added: “I would expect any TD who would have done that to come forward,” reports Breaking News.
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