DÁIL Éireann has voted by 66 votes to 44 to suspend Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara after he was involved in a heated row with Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett this morning (Wednesday). He has been since suspended for three days.
Deputy McNamara was stringently objecting to what he calls the “guillotining” of Dáil bills where they are rushed through without “meaningful debate.”
The bill under discussion was the International Protection Bill. Deputy McNamara says that the bill only recognises what he calls “nuclear families,” so that when refugee families come to Ireland, only a husband, spouse or civil partner and their mutual children, will be recognised. Children from other relationships or dependent adults will not be recognised under the legislation that is very likely be passed in Dáil Éireann this afternoon.
Deputy McNamara says that he is unlikely to lose the Labour Party whip, for the second time this year but says that he is not certain of this.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.