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Updated 3.43pm
SENATOR MARK DALY has claimed that no one in Fianna Fáil informed him he was expelled from the parliamentary party after defying the party whip in a vote on the Water Services Bill at the weekend.
The Kerry-based senator has since confirmed he is out of the parliamentary party but he strongly disputes that he voted against party policy and now expects to be readmitted in the New Year.
Daly voted against a procedural motion to guillotine the committee stage of the debate at 3am on Saturday morning following some 16 hours of debate despite the 13 other Fianna Fáil senators deciding to back the government’s decision to halt the debate.
Daly was one of seven senators who voted against the suspension of the upper house after the marathon debate, arguing that committee stage debate should continue through the night.
A Fianna Fáil spokesperson said that Daly had lost the party whip as a result of his vote which means he is automatically expelled from the parliamentary party.
They said: “When a member votes against us they automatically lose the whip, it’s in the party rules which date back to the early 90s.”
But Daly, a Kenmare-based senator, told TheJournal.ie this morning that no one from party headquarters had contacted him to inform him he had lost the whip and insisted he had voted with party policy.
“All I’ve heard from is the Irish Times,” referring to the story about his expulsion that is being carried by the newspaper this morning.
Daly was earlier seeking clarification from the party as he was of the belief that he was following party policy when he voted against halting the debate on Saturday morning.
He has since confirmed to this website that he has been expelled from the parliamentary party but is seeking clarification as to why this happened when he claims he did not vote against party policy.
“Last December, Fianna Fáil TDs walked out of the Dáil when the government decided to guillotine the debate and I voted against the guillotining of it on this occasion,” Daly said this morning as he defended his vote.
He later said: “My belief is there shouldn’t even be an issue, I’ve followed the party policy. Did I vote against party policy?”
Despite his expulsion Daly expects to be readmitted to the parliamentary party when it meets again in January.
Debate on the Water Services Bill, which gives effect to the new water charges announced last month, continues in the Seanad and is expected to conclude at 6pm.
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Toe the line or else,is the threat
Usually don’t pay too much attention to the thumbs but Leslie’s comment is a factual one. No grey area there.
Don’t like the rules then don’t join the club! He’s free to resign and go independent.
That’s the whole point Reg. The rules suck ass.
Mark Daly , I have always felt , would fit much better into the SF mould .
He is a very hard working Senator , from very good Republican stock.
He could be the ideal partner to Martin Ferris , to garner enough votes in Kerry to elect Two Sinn Fein TD’s in the constituency !
Should Martin retire , Toireasa , his extremely competent Councillor daughter , would as well make a very strong young Team , well capable of securing the brace of Seats for SF in the County .
Brian Crowley , from just over The Cork Border and a great Vote generator in Munster and a very close friend of Marks , is no friend of Micheal Martin either and would be a great addition to SF too !
Interesting times ahead in Kerry SF / FF Politics ?
Archaic rules for God’s sake! 1990? He’s probably better off away from those gombeens anyhow.
It appears there isn’t anyone left in Fianna fail to tell him he’s out !
Ah democracy. Nice to see FF still respect the system that got them to power so many times. Pity the party won’t be round much longer to appreciate it..actually it’s not a pity. Good riddance!!
Mark Daly,
A good way of making sure you have plenty of time for your Xmas shopping. ..
Expelled for what? Did someone mention fascism?
No, I don’t think so,
Getting expelled from Fianna Fáil must be like getting evicted from a dilapidated house.
Gets the waterboard treatment for wanting to debate the water board charges. .lovely politcs eh !!!
The rules need to be changed like everything else in this country out dated
They done him a favour
He did himself favour – Independent Fianna Fail is strong in Kerry – He might be better off staying out …..
Waste of space
Expelled from Fianna Fail ? – YOU JAMMY GIT.
Nice one Mark,
You put a knife in the back of Martins leadership.
Poor fella
Independent Fianna Fail may come calling
Poo
He’s pretty.
have your say