The Dáil’s business committee is due to meet this lunchtime to discuss the Vote Gate controversy.
Fine Gael TD’s want Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley, Niall Collins, and Lisa Chambers to give statements to the Dáil on false voting in the chamber.
Today’s Dail sitting is the first since news of this controversy broke on Saturday, with a report that TD Niall Collins voted six times for his colleague Timmy Dooley in his absence
It later emerged that Lisa Chambers cast a vote on behalf of Dara Calleary, who also wasn’t in the chamber.
Today, Fine Gael is looking to call a number of Fianna Fáil TD’s – including Deputy Dooley – into the Dáil to explain their voting in the chamber from last week.
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald says there needs to be answers.
There’s also questions about a vote seemingly cast for Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen in his absence – and questions about voting by Fine Gael Ministers Eoghan Murphy, Damien English and Michael Ring.
All three claim they were in the chamber at the time of the vote, but can’t be seen on the camera, which captures their seats but not the entire chamber.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin says the whole thing has damaged the integrity of the Dáil.
The issue has also led to a massive row between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, and will be high on the agenda of Dáil business when it resumes this afternoon.
