GOVERNMENT DEFEATED IN SEANAD AFTER JIMMY HARTE AND LABOUR COLLEAGUES FAIL TO SHOW

Senator Harte. Wasn’t there

DONEGAL Senator Jimmy Harte is at the centre of Labour Party investigation tonight after his failure to show up at the Seanad led to a rare Government’s defeat.

The Government lost a vote 27-23 on private members’ bill proposed by Senator Feargal Quinn dealing with upward-only rent reviews.

It has been announced that the Labour Party chief whip Emmet Stagg is to seek meetings with Mr Harte and three others who were not present for the vote.

Senators John Kelly, Denis Landy and and John Whelan were expected to be present and vote with the Government.

Had they been present, the vote would have been tied 27-27 and the Government would have defeated the motion with the casting vote of Seanad Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke.

Two former members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Paul Bradford and Fidelma Healy Eames, voted with the Opposition.

A number of the Taoiseach’s nominees, Jillian Van Turnhout, Fiach Mac Conghail, Mary Ann O’Brien, Marie Louise O’Donnell and Katherine Zappone, also voted with the Opposition in an embarrassing night for Labour and the Government.