Tag Archives: Votegate

Context

From top: Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne, Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin

This afternoon.

In the Dáil.

TDs are making statements in respect of the ‘Votegate’ report.

Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne (top) branded the actions of the TDs involved “thoughtless, cavalier and arrogant”.

He also said their behaviour has “damaged” the Dáil.

Watch live here

Earlier: Meanwhile, In The Dáil

From top: Minister for Health Simon Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Dáil yesterday.

Earlier this morning.

Health Minister Simon Harris spoke to broadcaster Audrey Carville on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland about the Dáil voting controversy.

It follows reports in the Irish Independent this morning that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar voted for colleagues in the Dáil chamber, while the colleagues were in the chamber.

A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said he never voted for anyone who was absent from the chamber.

From the interview…

Audrey Carville: “Just finally, our political correspondent reporting this morning that the Taoiseach has confirmed he voted for colleagues who were in the Dáil chamber but who weren’t in their seats. Did you ever do that?”

Simon Harris: “You know I’ve been in the Dáil nearly nine years and voted thousands of times and I don’t recall a specific time I did it but I’m not ruling it out because the rules do allow it and I think what we’ve seen is, it has become quite commonplace. But there is a huge difference.

“There’s been a very, very successful job done to muddy the waters in recent days here. There’s a very big difference between doing that and breaching the constitution of Ireland.

“The constitution says you must be present in the Dáil chamber.

“We know Timmy Dooley wasn’t present. We know Niall Collins voted when he wasn’t present. We know Lisa Chambers voted for someone who wasn’t present.

“There has been no evidence…and this, by the way, wasn’t started by Fine Gael. This was investigative journalism by the Irish Independent that showed Fianna Fáil TDs, in my view, breaching the constitution.

“And tomorrow we’ll have the Ceann Comhairle’s report. I’ve full confidence in his ability to get to the bottom of this. We need to tighten up this thing of, you know, voting and seats, I fully agree with that.

“But that shouldn’t be allowed to distract from people, you know, heading out the M8 down to Clare while somebody else stays in the Dáil and votes six times for them. We’re legislators, you turn up, you do your job and you vote.

“And if you can’t vote, if you’re busy or you’ve something on, you certainly don’t ask your buddy to press the button for you.”

Carville: “Thank you very much, indeed, Health Minister Simon Harris in our Dáil studio.”

Varadkar admits he has voted for colleagues who were in chamber (Cormac Quinn, Irish Independent)

Meanwhile…

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin

This morning.

Via Independent.ie:

The instance where a vote was cast for Mr Martin in his absence happened during a Dáil debate on reducing the number of seats in the EU Parliament in February. Mr Martin is recorded as not being present for two of the three votes on the legislation. However, for the last and final vote the Fianna Fail leader’s vote is recorded as being present.

…for the third and final vote, Mr O’Brien is not recorded as voting in his own seat. Mr O’Brien last night admitted he may have incorrectly pressed Mr Martin’s voting button during at the end of the debate.

Vote cast for Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin when he was not in the Dáil chamber (Independent.ie)

Rollingnews

Seán Ó Fearghaíl , Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann

“”These revelations are very grave and go to the heart of the credibility of our parliamentary process… the public must have total and absolute confidence in it.

I have requested to speak with a number of members, the tellers from last Thursday, and the party and group whips. I ask all to cooperate, as it is imperative to establish facts and restore confidence.

There has e has also been a complaint under the Ethics Act… but separately the Dáil’s procedural committee will have to meet and establish next steps for the operation of e-voting.

This is a very serious situation which requires urgent action; I am absolutely committed to establishing the facts and making any changes to the electronic voting system which is necessary in my view.” He says e-voting is integral to the Dáil system

Votes this week will only be taken when all members are sitting in their own seats; party whips will be asked to independently certify the attendance of their TDs before the tellers sign the result.”

Seán Ó Fearghaíl , Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann this afternoon.

Via Gavan Reilly, political correspondent Virgin Media News, who adds:

Dáil’s procedural committee committee is expected to receive its report, stating facts of the Dooley-Collins-Calleary-Chambers issue, tomorrow evening…

Earlier: Vote Early, Vote Often