The Public Accounts Committee has gotten underway with no sign of former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley.

Deputy Stanley has been Chair of the Oireachtas committee since 2020; however, Sinn Féin is aiming to replace him in the role now that he has resigned from the party.

His former party nominated Galway TD Mairéad Farrell in his place; however, representatives of other parties have warned they will not cooperate with a Sinn Féin chair due to the recent controversies that have engulfed the party.

As the meeting got underway this morning, Deputy Stanley was nowhere to be seen – with vice chair Catherine Murphy standing in, in his absence.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said opposition to the replacement of Deputy Stanley was ‘not the correct response’.

“If they have issues in questioning Sinn Fein well then they need to do that in the dual chamber," he said. "But the Public Accounts Committee needs to be allowed to continue its work without being involved."

“The PAC is a standing committee of the Oireachtas and should avoid all controversies in the context of this issue - let it be dealt with elsewhere in the Dáil or publicly,” Minister McGuinness continued.

Deputy Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin on Saturday, claiming he has been subjected to a flawed internal inquiry which he described as a ‘kangaroo court’.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has rejected his claims, insisting that his rights were protected throughout the process.

She later told the Dáil that the complaint against him was ‘very serious’ and said the alleged incident had left the complainant ‘traumatised and distressed’.

Deputy Stanley has since accused party leader Mary Lou McDonald of abusing Dáil privilege.

Separate to Deputy Stanley’s resignation, it was recently revealed that former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile also resigned from the party for sending inappropriate texts to a minor.