Kildare Sinn Féin TD Confirms She Did Leave The Dáil Chamber Before Special Criminal Court Vote.

Friday, 25 June 2021 11:40

File image: Patricia Ryan, TD/Houses of the Oireachtas.

Speaking to Kildare Today on Thursday, Deputy Ryan says she was present in the chamber, and her vote was registered as an abstention.

Kildare South Sinn Féin TD, Patricia Ryan, has clarified that she did leave the Dáil chamber before Wednesday's annual vote on legislation to extend the powers of the Special Criminal Court.

Speaking to Kildare Today on Thursday, Deputy Ryan says she was present in the chamber, and her vote was registered as an abstention.

The party abstained last year - but previously had always opposed the legislation on the Special Criminal Court.

There were no Sinn Féin TDs in the chamber during Wednesday's ballot, as all 8 present left just before the vote.

Deputy Ryan has clarified that she was in the chamber, and left before the Special Criminal Court vote, as she thought the evening's business was concluded.

Her constituency mate, Independent TD, Cathal Berry:

Deputy Ryan was not available to take part in this morning's interview, as she was attending meetings.

She issued this statement to Kfm Radio:

"I was present in the chamber last night and left after what I thought was the last vote my abstention was recorded on this vote , I had been reading material for my budgetary oversight committee meeting for 9.30 this morning when a colleague asked if I was ready so I gathered up my stuff and left,

I didn't realise until it was pointed out to me later today there was two other votes

Had I been there I would have abstained so whether I was present or not result would have been the same

But I'm happy to correct the record was a simple mistake on my part "

Deputy Berry joined Clem Ryan on Friday's edition of the programme.