Overview
- Byrne announced on Thursday that he will resign as chair after confirming he was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of drink driving following a stop at a mandatory garda checkpoint in Dublin.
- He told party leaders and the Taoiseach and said he is cooperating with an ongoing garda investigation that he said remains active and that he will not comment further at this stage.
- Irish media reported that Byrne failed a breath test at the checkpoint and chose to provide a urine sample, with results still awaited and the evidentiary process continuing.
- Byrne will remain an active member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, will support the vice-chair or any new chair, and plans to move the Second Stage of his Protection of Voice and Image Bill next week.
- The Taoiseach said he abhors drink driving and has spoken to Byrne; political consequences will depend on the outcome of the garda inquiry and any subsequent legal steps, while the committee prepares its second interim report.