It was “appropriate” that Senator Martin Conway resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party when it emerged he had been arrested in Dublin earlier this year, the Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris has said.
Last weekend it emerged Mr Conway had been arrested after being found in an intoxicated state on O’Connell Street in January.
Mr Harris said the circumstances which led to Mr Conway’s resignation were distressing but it was “appropriate” he resigned the party whip and there would be “a full investigation”.
Mr Conway remains a senator and a Fine Gael party member but he is facing a party disciplinary procedure.
A neuropsychologist’s view on Donald Trump: We’re seeing the impact of power on the human brain
NFL’s €10m shakedown of Ireland shows they’re the best-dressed welfare spongers in the world
Unelected Musk holds court in Trump’s Oval Office as he defends efficiency drive
Leopardstown racecourse earmarked for 1,000 social and affordable homes
The Dáil was told on Tuesday that Mr Conway had previously been involved in an incident in 2018 of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a young woman.
[ Call for Tánaiste to address Dáil on controversy over Martin ConwayOpens in new window ]
Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly called in the Dáil for the Ceann Comhairle to set time aside for Mr Harris to address the Dáil.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, Mr Harris said he first learned of the earlier 2018 incident involving Mr Conway, which he said predated his leadership by many years, late last year.
Mr Harris said the current disciplinary process would focus on the arrest on O’Connell Street.
He said he did not want to “over-comment” until the disciplinary process comes to a conclusion but said: “I expect the highest standards to be upheld and I do expect that to be considered as part of this process.”
Separately, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, also Fine Gael, was asked at a press conference about Sinn Féin’s call for Mr Harris to make a Dáil statement on the matter.
Mr Donohoe did not respond directly to the Sinn Féin demand but said: “Senator Conway has now resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party” and “he has expressed his strong regret”.
Mr Donohoe also said: “Given that now a [disciplinary] process is under way with regards to it I can’t say any more.”
Mr Conway was not in attendance at the first sitting of the new Seanad on Wednesday.
