Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny is to meet with his spokesman for justice Mr John Deasy this evening after the Waterford TD broke rank with party members to vote with the Government on the Immigration Bill.
|
In short statement today Mr Kenny said: "In protest at the Government's failure to provide adequate time to debate more than 10 pages of amendments and because the guillotine was being used, Fine Gael voted against the report stage of the Immigration Bill."
He said: "Deputy John Deasy voted with the Government in this vote. I will be speaking with Deputy Deasy later to clarify this matter.
"This is not a matter of policy difference. Fine Gael had not objected to the principle of this piece of legislation but we had tabled a number of amendments to its provisions," he added.
Sinn Féin said Mr Deasy's actions showed Fine Gael were not capable of providing real opposition.
"That the Fine Gael party cannot even count on the support or discipline of its own spokespersons best illustrates the chronic position that party finds itself in. It is abundantly clear that Fine Gael are not an opposition party," Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh said.
