Whip Removed From Two TDs Over Vote

Two TDs have befallen the removal of the whip by their respective parties after they broke their party lines' during the controversial hunting vote.

Yesterday's vote on a bill outlawing the practice of stag hunting with hounds went in the Government's favour with 75 votes to 72. After the Opposition called for a 'walk-through' vote, the final result was a 75 to 71 win for the Government and the implementation of the bill.

Fianna Fail's Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath, and Labour's Deputy Tommy Broughan have both had their respective party whips removed over the issue after they abstained from voting.

TD Mattie McGrath was expelled from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party last night after voting against the stag hunt ban. Speaking on the radio this morning, Mr McGrath said a number of recent Green Party bills, including those covering planning and civil partnership, have all been pushed forward without being properly debated. Mr McGrath said such moves were undemocratic.

It is believed the Green Party had made these recent bills a condition of their continuance within the coalition with Fianna Fail.

"They are bullying Fianna Fáil to be honest," he said.

Meanwhile, in a terse statement this morning, the Labour Party Chief Whip Emmet Stagg said he has written to Deputy Tommy Broughan informing him that his decision to abstain from two votes in the Dail on the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 at Second Stage and at Final Stage automatically leads to the removal of the Labour Party Whip from him.

In a formal letter to the Labour TD, Deputy Stagg said:

“I wish also to put on record that you did not inform me of your intentions and that I made contact with you between the two votes referred to and instructed you to attend for the vote at 7.00pm. You failed to do so.

“You will be aware of the consequences of the removal of the Whip from you.

“You will recall that when you abstained on the Criminal Justice Bill last year, the Party Leader made it clear to you that any repetition would result in the automatic removal of the Whip from you”.

Another Fianna Fáil TD, Christy O’Sullivan from Cork South West, abstained on an earlier division but voted with the Government on the final stage. His fate will be decided today after a meeting with Government Chief Whip John Curran.

(DW)