New footage has emerged suggesting Fianna Fail TD Lisa Chambers cast votes on behalf of a colleague in the Dáil on a previously unknown occasion.
The Sunday Independent reports that seven votes were cast from Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley's seat while she was sitting in it last January.
The paper reports that votes were being cast from Deputy Chambers' seat at the same time - while Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly was sitting in it.
Votes were also being cast from Deputy Donnelly’s seat; however, the footage does not record who was sitting in his seat.
Deputy Dooley has said he was in the chamber at the time the votes were cast - with Dáil records showing he was present in Leinster House.
"Lax practices"
Speaking to On the Record with Gavan Reilly this morning Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Deputy Dooley is “adamant that he was in the house” when the votes were cast.
“We know there were lax practices in terms of deputies from all parties, from the Taoiseach down, who would have voted for other colleagues while they were in the Chamber,” he said.
“In other words, they would have pressed buttons for colleagues who were in the Chamber.
“That seems to be the situation here. No different to what has happened across the board.”
Investigation
Deputy Chambers apologised to the Dáil earlier this year after it emerged she voted on behalf of her colleague Dara Calleary – insisting it was an honest mistake.
Last week, the Dáil ethics watchdog said she should be given a warning over the incident and warned her that if further breaches were uncovered, it could find that she acted “recklessly.”
The Committee on Members Interests decided not to take any action Fianna Fáil Deputy Barry Cowen, while a decision on potential sanctions against Niall Collins and Timmy Dooley was delayed until the New Year.
