I move:
Subject always to the right of Dáil Éireann to legislate on any matter (and the guidelines drawn up by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges from time to time), and unless otherwise precluded under Standing Orders, a Member should not be prevented from raising in the House any matter of general public importance, even where court proceedings have been initiated:
Provided that—
(1) the matter raised must be clearly related to public policy;
(2) a matter may not be raised where it relates to a case where notice has been served, that is to be heard before a jury or is then being heard before a jury;
(3) a matter should not be raised in such an overt manner so that it appears to be an attempt by the Oireachtas to encroach on the functions of the Courts or a Judicial Tribunal;
(4) Members may only raise matters in substantive manner (i.e. by way of a parliamentary question, debate on the adjournment, motion and so forth) where due notice is required; and
(5) when permission to raise a matter has been granted, there continues to be an onus on Members to avoid, if at all possible, comment which might in effect prejudice the outcome of proceedings.
