No disciplinary action in phantom votes controversy

DISCIPLINARY action is not recommended following the inquiry into the Dáil phantom voting controversy, it has been confirmed.

But a wider review of the voting system is needed, according to those who conducted the inquiry.

It found that Fianna Fail's Niall Collins was of the belief that party colleague Timmy Dooley would return to the chamber when voting for him.

The Dáil is scheduled debate the report this afternoon, and TDs who are the subject of the report will have an opportunity to make a statement.

Deputy Collins voted six times for his absent colleague Deputy Dooley.

Mayo TD Lisa Chambers mistakenly voted once for the deputy party leader Dara Calleary, but failed to have the voting record corrected immediately afterwards.

Fianna Fáil has in turn referred video footage to the Ceann Comhairle over instances where it claims that some Fine Gael ministers are not in the chamber for a Dáil vote.

The controversy around events last Thursday prompted the Ceann Comhairle to order an urgent report into the matter.