Labour TD Michael McNamara will keep the party whip, despite voting against the government on a bill which would allow gardaí to join trade unions.

The bill was defeated by 69 votes to 24.

The bill would have formally given garda representative associations the right to negotiate pay and conditions for their own members.

Speaking to Jonathan Healy on Lunchtime today, Deputy McNamara stated: "I didn't quit, I voted for my own bill".

He also went on to say that he was still a member of the Labour party and that he still supported the Labour party.

You can listen back to his interview here: