Five Sinn Féin TDs and Senators have written to Tánaiste Simon Harris requesting he set aside time in the Dáil to take a statement, and answer questions, in relation to the behaviour of Senator Martin Conway.
The five women have said there are still very serious concerns about an incident involving Mr Conway in 2018 in which he allegedly acted inappropriately towards a Fine Gael colleague.
They have also asked Mr Harris to explain why a sum of €10,000 was paid by the Clare Senator to a charity in the wake of the incident.
“It is of particular concern that Senator Conway allegedly acted inappropriately with a member of (Fine Gael) Oireachtas party political staff and that a sum of €10,000 was paid out in respect of this incident.
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“Questions must be answered as to why this money was aid out, to whom was it paid and what was the purpose of (him) making such a payment.”
The letter is cosigned by TD Louise O’Reilly and four Senators: Maria McCormack; Pauline Tully; Joanne Collins; and Nicole Ryan.
Ms O’Reilly raised the allegations under Dáil privilege earlier this week.
The women’s letter also points out that, after the alleged incident, Senator Conway was subsequently supported by Fine Gael in contesting elections to the Dáil for the Clare constituency, and also to the Seanad.
“There are many questions to be answered and it is necessary that as Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader you come before the Dáil this week and make a full statement and take questions on the matter.”
The issue was raised again in the Dáil on Thursday by Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell who renewed the party’s call for the Tánaiste to answer questions about the investigation.
Mr Harris said a disciplinary process will take place.
“I do not want to say anything that in any way cuts across that or, indeed, impedes on people’s privacy and the need to respect the person’s privacy in terms of the woman here as well, but I expect the highest standards to be upheld and I expect all of these issues to be considered as part of that process.
“We are talking about an incident which occurred and was addressed by my party some years prior to my leadership but there is a disciplinary process and I do not want to say anything that cuts across that due process.”
The 2018 incident predates the appointment of Mr Harris to the Fine Gael leadership. Mr Conway has been a senator since 2011. He contested the 2020 Dáil election on behalf of Fine Gael.
He did not contest the most recent election in November 2024 but was a Fine Gael candidate for the Seanad, where he retained his seat on the administrative panel.
The 2018 incident came to light after it was reported last Sunday that Mr Conway was arrested by gardaí in January after they came across him in a highly intoxicated state on O’Connell Street in the early hours of the morning. The Senator was subsequently released without charge.
The incident happened on the day the Dáil reconvened to elect a Taoiseach. Mr Conway failed to inform the party of the incident or his arrest, which was contrary to the party’s code of behaviour for its public representatives.
He resigned from the parliamentary party last weekend but remains a senator. Fine Gael has started an internal disciplinary process in relation to the matter.
