Ó Snodaigh asks to give Dáil statement over charity

Ó Snodaigh asks to make Dáil statement over Liberty Recycling

Updated / Tuesday, 3 Nov 2026 12:04

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has asked to give a personal statement to the Dáil over the Liberty Recycling controversy.

Mr Ó Snodaigh is the chair of the charity, which is under investigation for money laundering.

The High Court heard last week that he had signed off on the establishment of two other related entities, which were not charities.

The request to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was confirmed by the party this morning, and comes after Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris among others called on Mr Ó Snodaigh to outline his position in the Dáil.

Speaking to reporters on the plinth at Leinster House, Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said that while his party "is not going to respond to the Tánaiste", he wanted to confirm that "Aengus has asked to make a statement, which is his right".

He said Mr Ó Snodaigh is not under investigation, has already said he is making himself available to help gardaí and the Charities Regulator with their inquiries, and that his party colleague wants the matter resolved as much as anybody.

Under Dáil standing order 56, a sitting TD may ask to make a personal statement in the Dáil if this is agreed by the ceann comhairle.

If the matter is not specifically related to Dáil activity, a TD cannot be forced to make a statement, and does so at their own request.

The Charities Regulator has said that while there was no evidence that the charity's trustees were involved in the activities under investigation, it had formed the view that there was little or no effective management or oversight of the charity’s activities.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, Mr Harris said: "I think it would be rather absurd if he didn't make a statement to the Dáil.

"Quite frankly, could you imagine if this was any in any other party, what Sinn Féin would be calling to happen?"

He said it is "really important" that Mr Ó Snodaigh provides a statement to the Dáil.

Mr Harris added gardaí have a job to do "and the Oireachtas should never cut across that".

However, he said the Oireachtas has a "very important job to do in terms of protecting taxpayers' money".

"This a charity that received millions of euro of your money, and we, the people's representatives, have not only every right but every obligation to hear more in relation to that, " Mr Harris said.

He said a personal statement from Mr Ó Snodaigh would be "very helpful".

"I do think if you're a member of the office who's chaired a charity that has received millions of euro taxpayers' money, there's now significant public concern.

"I think it would be very helpful to provide further details on that. I think that should be done today," he said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the situation was "very, very concerning".

Mr Martin said it has broader consequences in "terms of the charity area more generally".

"People want confidence, and people need trust in charities," he said.

"So the situation is very, very concerning, and obviously there are investigations under way. And as far as I'm concerned, that's where I see it," he added.