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.

Peadar Toibin (File photo) Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
Abortion

Sinn Féin strips Peadar Toibín of committee chairmanship over X Case vote

The Meath West TD did not vote with the party on a motion to legislate for the X Case and has been disciplined for breaking the party whip.

SINN FÉIN HAS removed Meath West TD Peadar Toibín as chair of a Dáil committee after he did not vote with the party on legislating for the X Case.

Toibín has been stripped of the chairmanship of the Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions, effective immediately.  He will keep the party whip and remains the party spokesperson on enterprise.

Toibín said he was disappointed by the move, but added that he had anticipated the disciplinary action after he did not sign the Sinn Féin motion to introduce legislation for the X Case and was absent when the vote took place in the Dáil chamber at the end of November.

Party whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh said Toibín’s actions were a serious breach of party rules.

Toibín said he remains a Sinn Féin TD and is fully committed to the party.

“While I have strong personal opinions on the issue of legislation in relation to the X Case, I am on record as accepting that my recent actions were in breach of the Sinn Féin whip and that I anticipated disciplinary action,” he said.

The Meath West TD has said that he believes the X Case judgment was flawed, and spoken about how he respects his party’s position on legislating for the X Case but said that he has “different personal views” on the matter.

Read: Ireland told to expedite abortion legislation or regulation >

Read: Alan Shatter condemns ‘obscene and insensitive’ anti-abortion posters >

Read: Human Rights Commission to submit review of abortion report to Government >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
67
    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.