Political reaction: The decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the right of the Oireachtas to institute impeachment proceedings against Judge Brian Curtin was welcomed by the chairman of the all-party committee charged with the task of investigating the case, Denis O'Donovan.
"As chairman of the committee I am pleased at this landmark decision by the Supreme Court, bearing in mind that this is the first time in the history of the State that such a case has come before the courts," said the Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West.
"It has given a clear imprimatur for us to proceed with the work of the committee, and we intend to do that without delay. The judgment was totally emphatic."
He said that the committee members would study the judgment and meet within a fortnight. "We will continue then where we left off, while respecting the legal and constitutional rights," he added.
The committee, which was set up in June, 2004, was halted six months later, when Judge Curtin challenged an order to produce his computer. Mr O'Donovan said the committee would automatically dissolve when the next general election was called so he was determined to finish its work before then.
"We will proceed with all due haste, and if we have to meet five days a week, then we will do that," he said.
The vice-chairman of the committee, Fine Gael West Cork TD Jim O'Keeffe, who, like Mr O'Donovan, is a solicitor, also welcomed the decision.
"We have a job to do under the Constitution and the Supreme Court has ruled that we have gone about it in a fair and impartial way. It is not a particularly pleasant job but it has to be done," he said.
Mr O'Keeffe paid tribute to the committee's legal adviser, Gerard Hogan, for his work in ensuring that the procedures followed at all times were fair and even handed.
"We now need to get into the substantive issues as quickly as possible, while at all times following due process," he added.
Tánaiste Mary Harney also welcomed the judgment, although she said she there was no certainty that the committee would complete its work in the life of the current Dáil.
