TWO FIANNA Fáil TDs were unaccountably absent from the Dáil for crucial votes on the emergency Bill to give financial guarantees to Irish banks on Wednesday and early yesterday morning.
Neither the Kerry North TD Tom McEllistrim or Donegal North East TD Jim McDaid were "accounted for" when votes were called for the legislation.
Government Chief Whip Pat Carey said he was "extremely annoyed" at Mr McEllistrim's failure to show up for the votes after being present in Leinster House earlier in the day. "It is a serious disciplinary matter that he left Leinster House without informing me or being paired [a system where by pre-arrangement if a Government TD is absent, a TD from the Opposition agrees not to cast his or her vote].
"I intend to raise this most serious matter with him next Tuesday," Mr Carey added.
When contacted last night Mr McEllistrim would not comment on the matter: "I am in the middle of a meeting, thank you," he said, before ending the phone call.
Dr McDaid was present in the Dáil last week but was neither present nor contactable this week. It is likely that Mr Carey will seek to speak to him before deciding on his response to his absence. Some 15 Government party TDs were absent for one of the votes on an amendment to the legislation on Wednesday night, leaving the Government with a smaller majority than expected. Its margin was six votes, as it rejected Opposition amendments by 73 votes to 67.
Some eight Government TDs were paired with members of Fine Gael. A further three had been granted permission to be absent.
The Green Party's Ciarán Cuffe was at an architectural conference; Minister of State for Overseas Aid Peter Power was at a development meeting and Minister of State for Agriculture Mary Wallace was at a school meeting.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was also absent but under a long-standing arrangement for former taoisigh.
Minister of State for Science Jimmy Devins missed one of the votes that night. Mr Carey said the Sligo TD had gone for a walk and made an arrangement to be contacted by mobile telephone.
Mr Carey said Dr Devins was contacted but arrived back a few minutes too late to cast his vote when that division was called.
He was present for all other votes.
