Dear Editor,

Does “Freedom of Speech” permit Members to speak freely in the Chamber during a sitting or in committees during meetings while enjoying complete immunity from prosecution or civil liability for any comment they might make? While indeed this freedom is essential for the effective working of the House, under it, are Members so free to make uncensored statements or allegations about outside bodies or persons, which they may hesitate to make because they have a Protection privilege in the House? Can someone kindly tell me if “the privilege of a Member of Parliament when speaking in the House or in a committee is absolute, and that it would be very difficult to find that any statement made under the cloak of Parliamentary privilege would constitute no violation of that privilege”?

My personal opinion – Democracy only works for the electorate voting process. Regrettably it never works in Parliament.

Teresita Rudon