Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Is Fine Gael taking disciplinary action against TDs over critical article?

Eight Fine Gael TDs co-authored a piece voicing criticism of the Government’s stance on the Croke Park Agreement – but is the party disciplining them for this?

ON MONDAY, EIGHT Fine Gael TDs co-authored an article in the Irish Examiner that voiced criticism of the Government’s stance on the Croke Park Agreement.

Today, questions surround what happened next: Has the party begun disciplinary action? Writing in today’s Irish Times, Harry McGee says that a source said there will be “consequences” for their actions, and that there will be disciplinary measures taken against the eight.

The eight TDs who wrote the article are: Sean Conlan, Paul Connaughton, Pat Deering, Brendan Griffin, Noel Harrington, Sean Kyne, Anthony Lawlor, and Eoghan Murphy.

When contacted, the Fine Gael press office said that it doesn’t comment on internal party matters, and that this constitutes an internal party matter.

The government whip, Paul Kehoe, also refused to comment, saying that the issue is between the party and the TDs.

However, a source told TheJournal.ie that the party has met with a number of the TDs individually – although it is not known what was discussed during the meetings or what action, if any, could be taken.

One TD said that the subject had been discussed between party members but in conversational rather than an official manner.

In the Irish Examiner article, the TDs argued that if the Government wants to tackle the budget deficit, pay increases for those on higher wages “must be put back on the table”. They also questioned the savings being made under the Croke Park Agreement, and whether they had been overstated.

Labour TDs criticised the eight TDs yesterday, with one backbencher describing their arguments in the article as ‘rants’.

Read: Fine Gael TDs challenge Government stance on Croke Park>

Read: Labour TDs criticise Fine Gael ‘rants’ about Croke Park deal>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
45 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe McGarry
    Favourite Joe McGarry
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:10 PM

    I cannot understand why the Irish people voted for a new Fianna Fail government that is Fine Gael. Irish people will never learn…

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan oneill
    Favourite Ryan oneill
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:53 PM

    I don’t remember FG promoting the fact that they would turn into a continuity FF in the run up to election, it wasn’t in the infamous 5 point plan. I presume people like myself who did vote FG, based their votes on the fact that they said NOT ANOTHER RED CENT. What a huge wasted opportunity for them to actually deliver their pre election promises which IMHO were achievable and a chance for a change in the political landscape. However I’m like other voters who are utterly disgusted at a wasted vote!

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Z?
    Favourite Z?
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:20 PM

    In reality, few enough people actively wanted to vote FG in, their main aim was to vote FF out. That we have a FG/Lab government is a highly unfortunate side-effect of that.

    44
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Conroy Byrne
    Favourite Maria Conroy Byrne
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:01 PM

    The Labour tail seems to be wagging the FG dog. Howlin will make sure the bad boys are put on the bold step for stepping out of line. Whatever I think about the issue, it’s no harm to see a few TDs who aren’t mindless sheep. Labour seem to be calling all the shoots which isn’t what people voted for in the last election. Nor did people vote for more and more cuts to families who are already struggling to just put food on the table and pay the bills.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Gabbett
    Favourite Eileen Gabbett
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 5:45 PM

    I voted for them and I am so angry that I did. It is the lies and arrogance that gets me. How ignorant they are of all the suffering they have imposed after promising ”not another cent”.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona callan
    Favourite Fiona callan
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 8:08 PM

    What’s the point in having TDs if they can’t have an opinion ? This is exactly why the country is up the shit.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill Kearns
    Favourite Bill Kearns
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:18 PM

    Disciplinary action for speaking the truth ? Even the dogs on the street know the Croke Park agreement is a joke !

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Byrne
    Favourite Tony Byrne
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:20 PM

    The brass neck of these 8 TD’s these guys claimed 35,OOO Euro between them in expenses during August ,even though the Dail was not in session. How about starting there.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Petr Tarasov
    Favourite Petr Tarasov
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:23 PM

    Hear hear.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen murphy
    Favourite Stephen murphy
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 7:35 PM

    Could that be classed as an ethnic minority, being a Hypocrite?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Petr Tarasov
    Favourite Petr Tarasov
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:11 PM

    Send in the heavies: Phil Hogan and James Reilly will go to their houses with billy clubs!

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe McGarry
    Favourite Joe McGarry
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:16 PM

    Hogan is definitely gone at the next election. His taxes will also be rolled back when a new government wins. We should be taxing the rich instead of pillaging the Irish people.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Petr Tarasov
    Favourite Petr Tarasov
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:19 PM

    Agree with the sentiment, Joe, and I hope you’re right.

    29
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:10 PM

    Ryan

    If I recall correctly the term ” not another red cent” was made by a front bench spokesperson but was never mainstream Policy or a part of the Manifesto put to the people at the Election or any part of the Programme for Government agreed between Labour and Fine Gael when the electorate decides they didn’t want either Party but a mix of both in Government.
    The constant attack on Government over that statement in the manner you and other make is dishonest and deceitful and comes not from you but a political Party. This makes your contribution doubly dishonest.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute censored
    Favourite censored
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:56 PM

    FG/Labour/FF should all be consigned to the dustbin of history. Remember Gilmore’s accusations of being economic traitors? We didn’t realize that FG/Labour just wanted their turn to sell our country out.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan oneill
    Favourite Ryan oneill
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:34 PM

    Paddy
    I couldn’t care less what you think!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Gabbett
    Favourite Eileen Gabbett
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 6:01 PM

    Paddy Rodgers
    This will help you recall !
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LTCT7QIeP8

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan oneill
    Favourite Ryan oneill
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 6:05 PM

    Eileen my little star

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Gabbett
    Favourite Eileen Gabbett
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 7:10 PM

    You are welcome Ryan O’N . :) :)

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:22 PM

    Maybe Fine Gael would want to look up the article on the constitution that guarantees Everybody Free Speech . Just because you belong to an organisation does not mean that organisation can take that right away from you !!

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute graham galvin
    Favourite graham galvin
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:36 PM

    thats what party whips are for.get into line boy or else.free speech me arse.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:13 PM

    Being a Member of a Political Party means that you give up the right to speak out against the Party and invariably when one does they give up their membership. Simples.

    12
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maria Conroy Byrne
    Favourite Maria Conroy Byrne
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:05 PM

    So if you’re a TD, you just have to be a Yes man. Ridiculous system!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Higgins
    Favourite David Higgins
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:44 PM

    There better not be disciplinary action taken. They should have every right to speak their minds as elected representatives. The whip applies to votes last time I checked, not opinions.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:01 PM

    It’s seem to me (regardless of the party involved) you are only allowed to have an opinion when it follows the party line……

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute graham galvin
    Favourite graham galvin
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:21 PM

    david isnt voting an opinion as well? correct me if im wrong.

    17
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:29 PM

    David
    My understanding is that if you speak out against the Party publicly as opposed to criticism at the Parliamentary level you could be expelled . I certainly know that has happened previously in other Parties.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Norman Hunter
    Favourite Norman Hunter
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:58 PM

    David if you keep that up Enda will set Phil on you or maybe even Paddy.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute censored
    Favourite censored
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:04 PM

    Una duce, una voce. Remember those days?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:35 PM

    Graham

    You have stated that Sinn Fein is the Party you will vote for at the next election

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute graham galvin
    Favourite graham galvin
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 5:08 PM

    @paddy i think if you seen my comments i advocate a change to the current system.a direct democracy with the powers of recall when a politician isnt keeping their promises & doing their duty.its a million miles away from party politics but having said that there is more i agree with in sf policies than any other party.im pretty much done with voting as it dosent change the real power structure behind the curtain.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Gabbett
    Favourite Eileen Gabbett
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 7:18 PM

    Is David Higgins growing a spine and speaking out in favor of speaking out and
    having individual opinions within the party ? If you can call 8 being individual !

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Lennon
    Favourite Mick Lennon
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 2:27 PM

    get Mick Wallace to make a quick phone call to the “boys”

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:27 PM

    Graham
    Your quaint expression of “free speech me arse” reminds me of a local who spoke out one night in a small pub against the thuggery and law breaking going on in the name of Republicanism.! Three weeks later they got him as he made his way home from the Meath village. They used broken bottles Graham and he needed five operations to keep him alive. He hasn’t walked since.
    Don’t come on this site with your quaint expressions when you support Sinn Fein completely without any criticism.
    You clearly know what free speech would cost you!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute graham galvin
    Favourite graham galvin
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:37 PM

    @paddy what makes you think im a sinn fein supporter? have you ever heard me saying that? where did that incident you described take place & what is the background to it.if what you say is true & the guy was smashed up for his opinion then the people who done it are thugs.whats your point?

    23
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute censored
    Favourite censored
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:03 PM

    Rodgers, are you suggesting the whips will be meting out the same treatment?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute _doesnotcompute
    Favourite _doesnotcompute
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:33 PM

    @David Higgins – I get what you’re saying, but if they truly meant what they said, they should have resigned from the Party and become Independents. In Irish politics, once you’re part of a Party, you must tow the line. Only Independents can truly be trusted to say what they believe. I suspect that these 8 TDs were just rattling off populist sentiments. If they really did disagree with Party policy, they would have resigned in disgust.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Gabbett
    Favourite Eileen Gabbett
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 5:42 PM

    The only reason 8 of them came out and spoke out was so that they would not be expelled from the party .
    8 td’s to lose the party whip would not be a good thing in fairness … They did not want to stand alone either . Cowards the lot of them ! They will never be voted in again . !

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celtic Lady
    Favourite Celtic Lady
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 3:57 PM

    Party politics is croneyism. It matters little WHO we vote in , because once they are in , the whip is applied and they have to toe the party line or be punished. Across the parties we have intelligent people from all parties who could together come up with some strong leadership which didn’t involve the parish pump and the party line. In this time of crisis , we need leaders and positivity and cohesion , not kow-towing , internal wrangling and defragmentation. If ever we needed a national government to shape policy it’s now. But it won’t happen : too many vested interests and snouts in the trough and egos to be massaged.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Rodgers
    Favourite Paddy Rodgers
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 4:45 PM

    Celtic Lady

    Could you imagine having a Government at the moment that included the ULA . It wouldn’t last five minutes before they were tearing each others throats out. Say what you want about the larger Parties but the advantage of discipline means that Policy tends to remain Policy and be implemented when they are in Government. The current opposition are a positive disgrace at the moment.Sacrificing the right to speak out gives us some chance of stability.
    Could you also imagine a worse nightmare than a Cabinet that included Wallace Higgins Daly and the Turf Cutter Flanagan. You would need to put Ross in there to make it look respectable and still we would be the laughing stock of Europe.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Keogh
    Favourite Richard Keogh
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 8:13 PM

    Yes I could, one that included Kenny, Hogan, Shatter, Noonan, O’Reilly, Gilmore, Rabbitte and Howlin. Now that’s a nightmare cabinet.

    6
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 8:25 PM

    Yeah Paddy look at the towering intellectuals we have presented to Europe in the past. CJH, Bertie “canary pants” Ahern, Cowen and assorted ministers. TBH I doubt the inclusion of the ULA or even SF compared to that list of the good and the great would make Europe laugh any louder then they have in the past. Wallace, Higgins, Daly & Flanagan. Can I offer you James “stroke” Reilly, Philpot Hogan, Brendan “3.5 million” Howlin & Michael Ring. I won’t even bother mentioning Enda “I’ll not have a defaulter stamp on my forehead” Kenny and Eamon “Frankfurts way or Labours way” Gilmore.

    Regarding the right to speak out if those in power or members of parties in power are afraid or prevented from speaking out against what they consider wrong or unjust then democracy in Ireland is in a darker place then I thought.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sum Yung Guy
    Favourite Sum Yung Guy
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 8:46 PM

    Revolution may have made Ireland independant, but it will take another revolution to set the country free.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marlon Major
    Favourite Marlon Major
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 9:57 PM

    The reason the government won’t approve the building more prisons… Is for fear they may be residing in one someday.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David O' Leary
    Favourite David O' Leary
    Report
    Oct 17th 2012, 10:18 PM

    Must be something in the Carlow/Kilkenny Constituency when it comes to being a “Rebel” TD. 1st it was John McGuinness, now it’s Pa Deering!?
    Of course aside from that this shows that Govts. discourage free-thinking.
    To be fair backbenchers have to be heard someway & such are the archaic rules of “speaking time” that they will never be heard in Dáil Eireann.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds