ON SATURDAY IRELAND’S BEST- SELLING NEWSPAPER Brexit Are you ready to retire? The day Our guide to better living for of truth every age 10 pages of expert With Charlie Weston analysis inside and Sinead Ryan

Saturday, October 19, 2019 €3.00 (£1.80 in ) C Absent TD voted INSIDE six times in Dáil IRELAND’S Exclusive: Dooley Mum’s EYESON cannot explain the the word: THEPRIZE voting anomaly Caitríona Cormac McQuinn ready for PLUS and Fionnán Sheahan TV return A SENIOR Fianna Fáil TD ‘voted’ in the Dáil six times in one day despite not being present in the chamber. is recorded as having taken part in a string of votes on Thursday – but video recordings show he was not in his Dáil seat at the time. Mr Dooley, Fianna Fáil’s spokesman on communications, initially told the Irish Independent he did not know anything about it. However, he did not respond to repeated requests for clarity on his WHYONLY whereabouts at the time of the votes. His colleague Limerick TD Niall RTÉ’s Caitríona MONEYMATTERS Collins, who was seated beside Mr Perry opens up Dooley’s voting position, said he about returning FORWORLDCUPS could not explain the anomaly. to the newsroom Time is set aside in the Dáil every after maternity INREVIEW Thursday afternoon for TDs to vote leave and why on legislation and private member that ‘bizarre’ Oval motions. Office moment will Recommended retail price of the Irish Independent in ROI is €3.00 (£1.80 in Northern Ireland) Each TD is assigned a specific seat haunt her until the Vol. 128 No. 251 Irish Independent so that their electronic voting record end of her days. can be tracked. Mr Dooley’s seat was PHOTO: NAOMI GAFFEY empty over the course of eight votes See Weekend Magazine Continued on Page 2 2 Saturday, October 19, 2019 IRISH INDEPENDENT Inside today’s paper News

Weekend The untold story of Hurricane Lorenzo was nothing more than a storm in a teacup P6 Review Sport :: ‘More can be Big tournaments Forwards to carry done’ to promote are being held in the fight against Bram Stokers’ wrong places All Blacks P3 P4 links to capital

Luke Byrne and Alan O’Keeffe News State relies on huge corporate tax take to help pay the wage bill P4 IT IS one of the best-known and most successful horror stories of all time – recreated Personal The Week on-screen, in print and on the stage for more than 120 Finance Unionists’ best years and resurrected every interests now lie Halloween. Why motorists But not all of Bram Stoker’s in Ireland as dance face a Halloween fans are aware just how much with Tories ends Dublin’s north inner city fright was a key inspiration for his P42 P33 masterpiece ‘Dracula’. The area has been fighting to re-establish its connec- tion to the novel and its World 29 Comment 33 Letters 38 TV and Radio Weekend Magazine author, from festivals to a Business 39 Classifieds 44 Deaths 46 Puzzles 49-51 plaque commemorating the address where Stoker lived on Buckingham Street from the ages of 11 to 17 in the mid-19th century. At the Irish Independent, we take great pride in the quality of our trusted writing and always want to “In those days, the north hear the views of our readers. We also aim to correct any errors as quickly as possible. If you wish to inner city was a Gothic give feedback on this newspaper or report any inaccuracy, typographical and grammatical errors, Disneyland with a ghost on please email [email protected]. If you have a customer care issue, please call 1890 130130. every street corner,” said historian Hugo McGuinness, Postal address: Irish Independent, Independent House, No 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1. D01 X2E1 Telephone: 01-7055333. Letters to the Editor should be sent to: [email protected] who has written ‘Bram Stoker in the North Inner City’, the transcript for a self-guided Tokens are on Page 6 and 8 today walking tour. It will give fans of the maca- bre an insight into the early life of the author who wrote Today’s weather “despair has its own calms”. Stoker was fascinated by his mother Charlotte’s tales of Tribute: ghosts in her native Sligo and Historian her stories of a local cholera Hugo epidemic in her youth. McGuinness Mr McGuinness believes at the her stories and the ghostly Dracula tales, folk memories, and lore mural at of Dublin’s northside had Buckingham a very strong influence on Street in Stoker. Dublin. Stoker was delighted to PHOTO: OWEN listen on street corners to the BRESLIN stories told by local people of strange happenings, ghostly Dooley vote recorded six times but he

Continued from Page 1 Video footage of Dáil votes respond to several subsequent shows whether TDs vote ‘Tá’ phone calls and text messages. or ‘Níl’ with green or red dots Queries sent to Fianna Fáil on Thursday afternoon, yet his over their seats. also went unanswered. vote was recorded six times. Mr Dooley’s vote was The was last night The votes were on amend- recorded on six occasions dur- looking into the matter after ments to a motion ing the Dáil votes on Thursday, queries from the Irish Inde- on forestry and a Sinn Féin despite his absence. pendent. motion on the living wage. When the matter was raised There were wide margins in with Mr Dooley last night, he Prominent the results of each of the votes said: “There must have been a Clare TD Mr Dooley (50) is a and it would not have changed mistake or something.” key member of Fianna Fáil the result if Mr Dooley’s vote He also said: “I don’t know leader Michael Martin’s front- had not been counted. anything about it”. bench. While some votes require Asked by the Irish Independ- He was first elected to the walk-through divisions in the ent if he would investigate and Dáil in 2007, having previously Dáil chamber, votes on Thurs- come back with a further com- served five years in the Seanad. day were carried out electron- ment, he replied: “I’ll try.” Mr Dooley has been prom- ically. However, Mr Dooley did not inent in the debate over how IRELAND’S BEST-SELLING NEWSPAPER

See ‘Back to the Sport ‘My daughter finds it hard to darkest days’ make friends’ Tony Ward on Ireland’s World Cup drubbing Health & Living

Monday, October 21, 2019 €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) C – DÁIL CONTROVERSY – No further EU concessions to Phantom votes: FF in get DUP onside, warns Varadkar

Cormac McQuinn chaos as more TDs and Caroline O’Doherty

TAOISEACH has said there will be no further EU conces- sions to help the British government win the support of the DUP for the dragged into scandal new Brexit deal. He also said the Government was “disappointed” that the House of Commons had not yet voted on the deal struck between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU. He said yesterday that a Brexit Chambers says extension was preferable to a crash- out Brexit “if it comes to it”. sorry she did not The DUP is opposing the deal as it is against the prospect of a de facto reveal vote ‘error’ customs border in the Irish Sea. Mr Varadkar ruled out further con- cessions aimed at getting the DUP Cormac McQuinn onside. and Fionnán Sheahan “This is done now – we have nego- tiated two deals with the UK gov- FIANNA FÁIL’S high-profile Brexit ernment at this stage, both of them spokesperson has supported by 28 governments,” he become embroiled in the ‘phantom said. votes’ controversy that has rocked the “There isn’t going to be any further party. changes and I think the UK govern- In a fresh headache for leader Micheál ment acknowledges that.” Martin, she has admitted she recorded The UK has requested a Brexit a vote “in error” on behalf of Fianna Fáil extension and Mr Varadkar said “an during last extension would be preferable to no Thursday’s bizarre Dáil session. deal if it comes to it”. And she apologised for failing to dis- Meanwhile, councils around the country have identified a string of Brexit concerns, including a “high risk” of disruption by republi- Fionnán Sheahan: Debacle plays cans, job losses and damage to local right into opponents’ hands economies. The Irish Independent can today reveal details of local authorities’ con- close this in a radio interview when she tingency planning – how they expect was asked directly whether she ever their county will be hit, and efforts to voted for another colleague in the Dáil. mitigate the damage. Mr Martin has ordered Timmy Dooley Some of the starkest concerns are and to stand down from the laid out by officials in Border coun- front bench until the ties. In Co Leitrim, concerns have has completed a probe into the matter. been raised about Brexit-related Fianna Fáil TDs privately expressed fury activity by republicans. at the mess as ramped up the pressure and sought to bring two more Under pressure: Fianna Fáil’s Brexit spokesperson Lisa Chambers recorded a vote ‘in error’ for Dara Calleary Full reports: Pages 10&11 senior figures – and Willie O’Dea – into the scandal. Recommended retail price of the Irish Independent in It comes after the Irish Independent ROI is €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) revealed on Saturday that Mr Dooley Vol. 128 No. 252 Irish Independent was recorded as voting six times despite 16 questions TDs have to answer not being in the Dáil chamber.

Continued on Page 4 N 4 Monday, October 21, 2019 IRISH INDEPENDENT News FF Dáíl scandal

FF in chaos as more TDs Phantom votes: dragged into revelations over voting in Dáil amid probe into irregularities

From Page 1 are not in their assigned seat. Fine Gael Health Minister Simon Har- Both he and Mr Collins initially ris claimed on RTÉ that their explana- claimed they did not know what hap- tion was in “‘dog ate my homework’ pened when contacted on Friday. territory”. However, the following day the pair His party colleague said Mr Collins had pressed Mr Dooley’s claimed Mr Dooley and Mr Collins’s voting button in the mistaken belief he accounts were “complete and utter rub- was still in the chamber. bish”. Mr Brophy also raised questions Mr Calleary’s assigned seat is beside relating to Mr O’Dea and Mr Cowen. fellow Mayo TD Lisa Chambers. Dáil video from Thursday shows Mr The Fianna Fáil deputy leader was not Dooley approaching Mr Collins – who present at the start of Thursday’s vot- was chatting to Mr O’Dea – just before ing session as he was doing a live radio he leaves the Dáil chamber at the start interview. of the voting session. Mr Dooley says Ms Chambers was asked directly on something to Mr Collins as he points RTÉ yesterday whether she had ever towards his seat before leaving. Mr Bro- voted for a colleague or had a colleague phy questioned if Mr O’Dea could “shed vote on her behalf. She replied: “No, I any light on this”. haven’t.” Exclusive: The ‘phantom votes’ story He also questioned why Mr Collins sat However, she failed to give any men- broke in Saturday’s Irish Independent in Mr Cowen’s assigned seat. tion to the vote she made in error on Last night, Mr O’Dea said the issue Thursday and last night she apologised “For this, I apologise.” had nothing to do with him and said he for that. Mr Calleary said he understood that didn’t hear what Mr Dooley said. Ms Chambers said that she inad- Ms Chambers inadvertently voted in Mr Cowen said on RTÉ: “When I came Comment vertently sat in Mr Calleary’s seat and his seat for the first of the votes, but not in [to the Dáil], Niall was in my seat and Super Saturday “pressed the button once in error on the for any of the remaining ones for which I just [sat] beside him and we voted first vote”. he was absent. Mr Calleary added: “I did away, as we always do.” was a crushing She added: “No one asked me to do not and would not ask any other deputy He said the Ceann Comhairle is disappointment this and when I realised, I immediately to vote for me in the Dáil.” investigating “and whatever emanates – but at least moved to my own seat.” Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl from that will have to be accepted by all the political The record shows a vote recorded in has ordered an investigation into voting concerned”. Ms Chambers’s own seat as well. irregularities after the revelations about Party leader Mr Martin asked Mr theatre in “The vote was lost by a large number Mr Dooley and Mr Collins. Dooley and Mr Collins to step down as Westminster Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin so I did not inform the Teller. It was a Mr Dooley has since said Mr Collins front bench spokespersons. He said he was more shakes hands with Deputy Timmy genuine mistake and not intended. I voted for him “under the mistaken was doing this without prejudice and Dooley watched by Deputy Niall Collins have informed the Ceann Comhairle belief” that he was “at the back of the pending the outcome of the Ceann compelling earlier this year. Mr Martin took action this evening,” she said. chamber on the phone” when the vote Comhairle’s report. than the game yesterday to limit the fall-out of the “I genuinely believed that this error was taken. He said he has spoken to the He said he doesn’t think what hap- in Tokyo ‘phantom votes’ affair involving the was insignificant and when asked on Ceann Comhairle and asked to see if pened is acceptable, adding: “The John two TDs. PHOTO: MARK CONDREN RTÉ... had I ever voted for anyone else the record of the Dáil can be corrected. integrity of the voting situation in Dáil I answered no as [I] was never asked to Mr Collins has claimed that deputies Éireann is of the utmost importance... Downing vote for anyone else. “often” vote for colleagues when they and must be respected at all times.” 21

Another fine mess as Fianna Fáil phantom votes debacle plays right

party faithful come to wrap ously he takes the phantom phantom voting have some- coming out and putting their ANALYSIS themselves in the flag of true votes débâcle engulfing his thing in common. Both are They hands up. Republicanism. party. relatable and easily followed tried to Martin has stopped the “Many have abused the He had little choice. by the public. bleeding by offering up the name of Irish Republican- Timmy Dooley and Niall They cast politicians in a bad play it pair of frontbenchers. ism through the years, and in Collins were caught out badly light and confirm the preju- down The outcome of an inves- Fionnán particular those who waged with their carry-on. Collins dices of many. However, they and tigation by the Ceann Com- Sheahan a sectarian and divisive con- voted for Dooley in the Dáil – also display bad judgment on hairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl will IRELAND EDITOR flict against the repeatedly a clear breach of the rules and the part of public represent- excuse determine their future on the expressed opposition of the responsibilities of TDs. atives, which raise questions it away Fianna Fáil frontbench. Their ,” he said. Nonetheless, his action con- about their parties. prospects of becoming min- ICHEÁL It was a beautiful, crisp Inquiry: trasts starkly with the faff- The original sin is eclipsed isters are by no means over. MARTIN was October morning. His speech Ceann ing about of Leo by the amateur reaction. These are hardly career-end- standing on mainly covered Brexit and Comhairle Varadkar with Maria Bailey Dooley and Collins tried ing offences. the founda- contained thinly veiled digs at Seán Ó following her swing fall com- the “deny, evade and explain” But they have brought their M tion stone of Fine Gael and Sinn Féin. Fearghaíl has pensation claim. routes. Initially, they knew party into disrepute at a sensi- international Republicanism He should have been con- launched an After failing to solve a prob- nothing about it when asked tive juncture. yesterday. centrating on his pitch for the investigation lem like Maria, Fine Gael by this newspaper. Then There’s a general election The annual Wolfe Tone general election. Instead, he into Fianna remains stuck in a morass they tried to play it down and around the corner. Martin commemoration in Bodens- was dealing with the school- Fáil’s Dooley swampier than Booterstown excuse it away. cannot afford self-inflicted town cemetery, Co Kildare, boy antics of his frontbench. and Collins in Marsh at the boundary of the It was an unconvincing dis- accidents. is a mainstay in the Fianna Martin moved swiftly and the wake of Dún Laoghaire constituency. play. The damage would have One of his predecessors as Fáil calendar, where the decisively to show how seri- claims The swing fall claim and the been mitigated by simply Fianna Fáil leader, the late N IRISH INDEPENDENT Monday, October 21, 2019 5 FF Dáíl scandal News

16 unanswered questions at the heart of Dáil ballots affair

THE Irish Independent has posed a series of detailed questions about the ‘phantom’ voting controversy to Deputy Niall Collins and Deputy Timmy Dooley. The questions remained unanswered last night. The questions for Mr Collins Q. Have you ever voted on Mr Dooley’s behalf before? If so, how many times? If not, why did you do so this time? Q. Why did you say you had “no idea” what happened when you were contacted by the Irish Independent on Friday, given that you were able to offer an account of the incident on Saturday? Q. You have said that Mr Dooley did not ask you to vote on his behalf. Why did you record his vote on this occasion? Q. Have you ever recorded Mr Dooley’s or any other TD’s vote without them requesting you to do so before? Q. If you have voted on behalf of other TDs, were any of them in tight votes in the Dáil? Q. Can you categorically say that you have never voted on behalf of Mr Dooley or any other TD who was absent from the chamber on any previous occasion? Q. Does the Dáil record need to be corrected for any other votes you have recorded on behalf of Mr Dooley or other TDs? If so, which ones? Q. Why did you take Barry Cowen’s seat in the chamber? Q. Mr Dooley’s vote was recorded in six of the eight votes during Thursday’s Dáil session. Why did you not record his vote in the last two votes?

The questions for Mr Dooley Q. Both you and Mr Collins have said that you did not ask him to vote on your behalf on this occasion. Have you ever previously asked him to do so? Q. If not, why do you think Mr Collins voted on your behalf on this occasion? Q. If you did previously ask him to vote on your behalf, which votes did you ask him to record on your behalf? Q. Have you asked Mr Collins why he recorded your vote in the first six votes, but not the last two? Q. Does the Dáil record need to be corrected for any other votes in your name due to your absence from the chamber? If so, which ones?

The questions both TDs must answer Q. What was discussed when Mr Dooley approached Mr Collins just before he left the chamber ahead of voting? Q. Have they ever voted for other TDs who were not in their seats? If so, how many times? And for whom? into opponents’ hands in questioning credibility of front-rank TDs

Albert Reynolds, sagely noted riage referenda, the revival What he has done, though, agenda has little by way of like in government. The ghosts it’s the little things that catch in the 2014 local elections, FG will is bring his party to the point achievement in the areas of of the chaos of the collapse you out. the 2016 general election roll out where it can conceivably lead health and housing. a decade ago will also haunt Almost 25 years ago, on Tues- comeback and subsequent the next government. Fine Gael will roll out Varad- Fianna Fáil. day, November 22, 1994, the confidence and supply the To get there, he needs to get kar, and Pas- Fine Gael deliberately com- then-Taoiseach, who secured a arrangements. trusted hold of the Holy Grail of poli- chal Donohoe as a trustworthy plained about Cowen’s gag- breakthrough in the Northern He deserves great credit trio of tics: the pitch to convince the triumvirate and say there is filled post-budget speech being Ireland peace process with the within his party and he has general election floating voter. experience amongst the rest of “more puns than policies”. Downing Street declaration done the State some service Leo, There are always swing votes the Cabinet. And the party will The prudish Blueshirts and IRA ceasefire, was forced by ensuring we have a Gov- Simon, up for grabs. point a telling finger across to ignored Michael Noonan to quit over a convoluted row ernment during this difficult Paschal Fianna Fáil’s main oppo- the opposition and ask who is establishing a reputation in about extraditing a paedophile Brexit period. nents in the middle ground of In the there to match up. the 1990s for riddling his post- priest. Compare his mature people who want stable gov- spotlight: The behaviour of Dooley and Budget reaction speech in the “It’s amazing. You cross the approach on the need for rep- ernment for the country will Fianna Collins will be shown as an Dáil with wonderfully creative big hurdles, and when you resentation to the abstention- be Fine Gael. Taoiseach Leo Fáil’s Brexit example of a lack of integrity. jibes at the Government. get to the small ones, you get ist stance of Sinn Féin, which Varadkar’s party is basking spokesperson The voting saga is now That was the message then, tripped up,” he quipped. is based on complaining rather in the glow of its handling of Lisa sucking in Dara Calleary, the message now is about seri- Martin has guided his party than solving. the Brexit negotiations and Chambers Lisa Chambers, Barry Cowen ous administration for serious over many big hurdles: the Martin is still the only leader a booming economy. Fine has been and Willie O’Dea to various times. 2011 general election wipeout, of Fianna Fáil never to have Gael has already set out its sucked degrees. Just when Fianna Fáil’s cred- the report served as Taoiseach. There’s stall, focusing on statesman- into the The message will be if this is ibility was under scrutiny, their findings on , the no guarantee he won’t retain ship, economic stability and controversy the way they carry on in oppo- leading lights go and create tricky abortion and gay mar- that title. dependability. The domestic over voting sition, imagine what they’ll be another fine mess. IRELAND’S BEST-SELLING NEWSPAPER

Farming Independent Lifestyle A royal rift Page 27 Beef price deal How princes William and fails to deliver Harry grew up 36 pages of news & expert opinion inside – and apart

Tuesday, October 22, 2019 €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) C – DÁIL VOTEGATE– Millionaire GAA patron distressed at Cowen’s phantom being called a ‘donkey’

Shane Phelan vote for Brexit law LEGAL AFFAIRS EDITOR A MILLIONAIRE backer has called for “a forensic audit” of Fine Gael ministers also forced to deny they were absent from chamber as votes cast Mayo GAA’s accounts as the sponsorship row engulfing the county deepened further. UK-based options market Cormac McQuinn, Fionnán month where he appeared to ters forced to deny they were vote cast for him – and has the “I was in the chamber at the trader Tim O’Leary hit out at Sheahan and Kevin Doyle be absent from the chamber absent from the chamber diary to prove it. time but may have been off the “culture” he believes exists and other TDs sat in his seat. when votes were cast. And Rural Minister Michael camera,” he said. within Mayo GAA, revealing FIANNA Fáil public expendi- Last night, Mr Cowen Housing Minister Eoghan Ring has denied he was absent Their colleague Justice Min- he was branded a “donkey” in ture spokesman Barry Cowen insisted he never asked a col- Murphy said he was out of for a vote in October 2018 ister Charlie Flanagan issued an email sent from an official is the latest front bench TD to league to vote for him when he camera, but present, when a where he was marked down a grave warning that laws county board email address. be dragged into the growing was not in the chamber. vote was cast in the Dáil on as voting. passed as a result of tight Dáil Mr O’Leary also claimed ‘phantom voting’ storm. As the voting controversy January 17. Mr Ring can’t be seen in his votes could be open to legal some individuals associated His vote was recorded on a deepens for Fianna Fáil, it Fine Gael junior minister seat on video for about 10 min- challenges. with the county board had Brexit law and on two other threatened to spread to Fine also moved to utes during a vote on housing falsely sought to link him with pieces of legislation last Gael as well – with minis- insist he did not get a phantom and tax motions. Continued on Page 4 Mike Ashley, the much-ma- ligned owner of Newcastle United, who runs sporting goods retailer Sports Direct. The businessman told the In their Irish Independent he was not element: alleging any wrongdoing but Yelyzaveta claimed there needed to be Barkalova, an audit – “not to wash dirty Maria linen, but to get control and Bychkova, balance”, so the county could Sitora plan for the future. Khismatova He made the demand after and Stella circulating a letter containing Malkina, fresh allegations about alleged dancers from governance issues. St Petersburg The move marks a serious Ballet escalation of the sponsorship Theatre’s row which has been rumbling ‘Swan Lake’, for several months. posed with A group chaired by Mr the swans of O’Leary has been withholding the Grand €250,000 from Mayo’s county Canal before board, saying it would cease their opening funding “until appropriate night in governance structures are put Dublin’s Bord in place”. Gáis Energy Theatre. Continued on Page 2 PHOTO: BRIAN McEVOY Recommended retail price of the Irish Independent in ROI is €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) Vol. 128 No. 253 Irish Independent N 4 Tuesday, October 22, 2019 IRISH INDEPENDENT News Dáil votegate

ANALYSIS Do-nothing BARRY COWEN

Kevin Doyle GROUP POLITICAL EDITOR Dáil created Little white lies vote saga in reveal truth – a plague on TDs find voting a waste of time all in House

EN seconds and three steps – that’s what it would have taken for Lisa Chambers to correct the record of the Dáil. or presiding member.” T She didn’t bother because she COMMENT So it’s not an option. TDs do “genuinely thought it was insignificant”. have to be present in the Dáil. Fianna Fáil’s rising star even thought her Justice Minister Charlie Fla- mistake was so irrelevant she told a little nagan pointed out proxy vot- white lie on radio. ing was “unlawful”. “No, I haven’t,” Chambers responded on Fionnán More pertinently, he said Sunday when asked very directly whether Sheahan there have been tight votes in she had ever cast a vote for a colleague. IRELAND EDITOR the Dáil in the past, some won The answer came swiftly but when she by just one vote adding: “This NIALLCOLLINS popped up again on RTÉ’s ‘Morning Ireland’ is all now subject to challenge early yesterday, the Mayo TD explained she ICHEÁL Mar- – that any law that was passed interpreted the question to mean did she tin will have on the basis of a fraudulent ever “intentionally, knowingly, purposefully” no problem vote will be subject to chal- vote for somebody else. securing an lenge.” Chambers also claimed during the M overall major- And yet there is a view within interview that the Dáil is like the theatre ity in the Dáil after the next Leinster House that this is not and the seats are “not numbered”. That’s general election. an isolated incident. not accurate because the voting panels do It doesn’t matter how many “It’s endemic with some actually have numbers on them. The voting seats he wins, he can just get TDs. They work it like a FÁS pad she has used during every voting session his Niall and Lisa to push the course,” a TD said last night. since February 2016 is marked A-17. buttons for enough TDs in the The Oireachtas has been “I was tired, it was a long week,” she said Dáil. brought into disrepute and in a moment of hubris that must have sent Fianna Fáil’s phantom votes the authorities, headed by commuters into a haze. The vote took place was one of those touchstone the Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday afternoon. topics that got the nation talk- Fearghaíl, will have to clamp before it in 2014. Independents in the adminis- For what it’s worth, I believe her excuse. It’s ing yesterday. down on this activity. The phantom voting affair is tration, legislation cannot be most likely she did accidentally cast a vote Politicians behaving badly The Constitution also allows a reflection of the attitudes of passed. for Dara Calleary before doubling down and tends to have that effect. the Dáil to set it own rules and the so-called ‘do-nothing-Dáil’ The Government can be placing her own. However, it’s no laughing govern itself. towards the operation of the defeated on symbolic votes, The fact she didn’t think it mattered and matter. Voting by TDs is set Ó Fearghaíl is well-regarded parliament. which have little impact. Many was prepared to skirt over it when asked is out in the Constitution. as fair-minded by many in the contentious issues are parked. the real concern. Article 15.11.1 of Bunreacht na House. He has already cleaned New Politics Publishing the Autumn Voting in the Dáil is a very small part of hÉireann specifies: “All ques- up a mess which TDs made, The New Politics era of Con- Legislative Programme, the a TD’s workload but arguably the most tions in each House shall, save and then ran away from, with fidence and Supply means we Government said the Dáil significant. And for a €100,000 salary, you’d as otherwise provided by this his apology to former Rehab have a minority government has enacted 34 bills this year. hope they might see its importance. Constitution, be determined chief executive Angela Kerins propped up by the main oppo- There are 32 bills on the pri- But Chambers, who holds the important by a majority of the votes of for the way she was treated sition parties. ority list and 27 bills at various Brexit brief for her party, has survived her the members present and vot- by the Public Accounts com- Without the acquiescence stages. first ‘scandal’ since becoming a TD. ing other than the Chairman mittee during an appearance of both big parties and the Veteran TDs say this is the She is definitely embarrassed but still standing, unlike her colleagues Timmy Dooley and Niall Collins. By applying one punishment to Chambers and another to the two male deputies, Micheál Martin has suggested he doesn’t Cowen’s vote on Brexit legislation was believe their version of events. And maybe this is why. Last Friday, the Irish Independent contacted both representatives almost simultaneously to ask Continued from Page 1 Stormy Separately, Dáil video from them about the vote. waters: September 26 shows Mr Cow- It was put to Collins that he voted on behalf Already there are rumblings Housing en’s vote being recorded twice, of Dooley. He replied: “Jeeze, I’ve no idea. I that an anti-abortion group is Minister while he appears to be absent better check it out. Let me check it out and scouring video of the passing Eoghan from the chamber. I’ll come back to you.” He never did. of the legislation allowing ter- Murphy has Mr Dooley was in the Offaly Dooley was asked the same question in minations. been drawn TD’s assigned seat during reverse, and replied: “I don’t know anything An investigation into irreg- into the the sitting. Mr Cowen is seen about that.” ular voting, ordered by Ceann controversy. walking into the chamber just By Saturday afternoon, both were running Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, is minutes after the two votes. the line that Collins had wrongly believed Editorial being conducted by the clerk Last night he insisted: “I Dooley was elsewhere in the chamber and, Comment of the Dáil. A report could be have never asked a colleague unprompted, did his voting for him. Voting in ready by the end of the week. later admitted he voted on Mr nowhere to be seen. to vote for me when I was not It tells us many TDs don’t set much Dáil an The probe was launched Dooley’s behalf. He claimed he Mr Collins was sitting in Mr in the chamber.” value in the weekly voting sessions. They after the Irish Independ- was of the mistaken belief his Cowen’s seat during the vote But his statement did not see a wasted hour of sitting around every obligation ent revealed Fianna Fáil TD colleague was in the chamber. in question while former TD definitively say he was present Thursday. But the white lies suggest they for TDs, Timmy Dooley’s vote was Now Dáil video footage of Billy Kelleher – now an MEP in the chamber at the time. know the public expect them to take the job not an recorded six times during a a vote on Brexit legislation – is in his. “As has been confirmed in more seriously. Dáil session last week despite from March, uncovered by this Mr Kelleher’s own vote is the last few days, there is a A lie is only useful if the truth is more imposition his absence from the chamber. newspaper, shows Mr Cowen’s recorded in the row behind, known practice of members dangerous. 21 Limerick TD Niall Collins vote being recorded while he’s despite him not sitting there. who are in the House asking N IRISH INDEPENDENT Tuesday, October 22, 2019 5 Dáil votegate News

BREXITVOTE: COWEN’S PHANTOM VOTE How voting system is supposed to work Billy Kelleher sitting in Niall – and what happens Collins’s seat Billy next as probe goes on Kelleher’s empty seat Do TDs have to be in their Q&A Niall Collins own assigned seats to record sitting their vote? In theory, yes. But as we’ve in Barry learned in recent days, Cowen’s seat colleagues sometimes press Why is there controversy other TDs’ buttons when they about votes in the Dáil? are elsewhere in the chamber. The Irish Independent revealed They could be chatting to that Clare TD Timmy Dooley’s another TD or even on the vote was recorded six phone at the top of the stairs. times last Thursday despite his absence from the Dáil And that’s allowed to take chamber at the time. His party place – that sounds mad? colleague Niall Collins later For now it is allowed, yes. claimed he was pressing Mr Justice Minister Charlie Dooley’s voting button in the Flanagan said he accepted it’s Barry mistaken belief his colleague “not good practice”. Cowen’s was on the phone at the back Communications Minister vote is cast of the chamber. Fianna Fáil said the rules leader Micheál Martin ordered will “undoubtedly” have to be and Billy the pair to step down from tightened up. He said it will be Kelleher’s the front bench pending the for the Ceann Comhairle Seán vote in the outcome of an investigation Ó Fearghaíl to decide. row behind to be carried out by the Ceann is also cast Comhairle. It has spiralled What action has the Ceann since then with other TDs Comhairle taken? getting dragged into the Mr Ó Fearghaíl ordered an ‘phantom voting’ scandal. investigation into irregular votes in the Dáil in the wake of How is voting supposed to the controversy surrounding work? Mr Dooley and Mr Collins. There are two ways that votes The Oireachtas could are carried out – electronic not offer details of this voting and walk-through investigation last night other votes. Most of the routine than to say a report is “to be votes on legislation take prepared by the clerk of the place on Thursday afternoons Dáil as a matter of urgency”. and the majority are carried least productive Dáil they this month to laud his minis- frontbench pending an inves- out electronically. But Are there any votes planned have come across as ministers Veteran terial benches. tigation into his phantom vot- fundamentally TDs must this week? are simply avoiding legislation TDs say Pointing to the general elec- ing, and Lisa Chambers, who actually be present. Yes, the routine weekly that will be shot down on the tion campaign, he emphasised is explaining how she mistak- divisions are scheduled in for Floor. this is the importance of his “team”. enly voted for a colleague. How do TDs know they need just after 1pm on Thursday. The abortion law is the most the least “If we had a Fianna Fáil-led It doesn’t exude confidence. to get into the chamber? striking exception but that had effective Government now and they The focus will remain firmly Bells sound throughout Will they be conducted substantial support in both were involved in Brexit nego- on the parties and personali- Leinster House and its offices electronically, given the houses of the Oireachtas. Dáil tiations now who could they ties in the run in to the general warning TDs a vote is about to furore over ‘phantom votes’? In Fianna Fáil, the situation send who could match Simon election. take place. They have at least Yes, unless TDs demand engulfing the party’s front Coveney or Helen McEntee?” The voting saga was spread- six minutes to get there before walk-through votes under the bench hasn’t improved. The answer to that question ing last night, and drawing in the doors are locked while the Dáil’s rules which are known Taoiseach Leo Varadkar used would be sending their oppo- Fine Gael. vote is taking place. as standing orders. his address to the Fine Gael site numbers: Niall Collins, A plague on everyone’s Presidential Dinner earlier who has stood down from the houses. How does the electronic What does this involve? voting work? TDs must troop up the stairs First introduced 17 years and register their Tá or Níl ago, it cut down the need for votes with tellers stationed on TDs to march through the opposite sides of the chamber. voting lobbies at the top of This is the method used for recorded while he was not in seat the stairs on every issue. TDs the Dáil to elect a Taoiseach or are assigned their own Dáil Ceann Comhairle. Sometimes seat which has three buttons walk-throughs are demanded – green for Tá (Yes), red for where the vote results are colleagues to press the voting pending the outcome of the it’s never out of my sight when Níl (No) and blue for Staon tight. At least 20 members button if they are away from Ceann Comhairle’s investiga- ‘I have I’m in the chamber.” (Abstain). They have one are required to support the their seats in other parts of the tion. never in And junior minister Mr Eng- minute to press the button holding of a walk-through chamber,” he said. Meanwhile, Fine Gael Hous- lish insisted he did not get any and record their vote. vote. In the wake of ‘vote- “There are at least four ing Minister Eoghan Murphy my life colleague to cast a vote for The votes pop up on a TV gate’, TDs may well demand entrances to the chamber has been forced to insist he asked him. His vote was cast on May graphic showing the Dáil’s that this happens on Thursday. that are used frequently by all did not go missing when he anyone 15 on the Greyhound Bill 2018 seating plan as they are taking members of the House.” was casting a vote in the Dáil. to vote but the video of the vote shows place. Cormac McQuinn Mr Cowen said he welcomes Mr Murphy has been drawn he was not in his seat on the News the investigation ordered by into the phantom votes contro- for me if Government benches. Timmy the Ceann Comhairle. “I hope versy over a vote on January 17. I wasn’t Mr English says his min- No-deal Dooley’s vote there are recommendations in The minister leaves his seat there’ isterial diary shows he was Brexit was recorded the report that will tighten vot- after a vote and then returns in the Dáil that day for the plans six times ing practices,” he added. 27 minutes later. But Mr Mur- votes. “I have never in my life continue in the Dáil, The question mark over Mr phy says he was in the cham- asked anyone to vote for me if despite his Cowen’s votes creates another ber and is merely out of sight. I wasn’t there in the chamber,” as Britain’s absence from problem for Fianna Fáil leader “I was present and voted. In he said. “If I voted, I was in the divorce the chamber Micheál Martin. He has the shot, I’m out of camera chamber. If I was stuck talk- deal is in at the time. already temporarily demoted and I am in the chamber. You ing to someone, I would ask two front-bench members – can clearly see my minister’s someone to push it for me,” he disarray Mr Dooley and Mr Collins – folder remains at my seat and added. 10 IRISH INDEPENDENT Friday, October 25, 2019 9 Votegate News

INQUIRY ‘I was sloppy, I owe apologies’ – what Fianna Fáil TDs told the investigation

Timmy Dooley Niall Collins Lisa Chambers Barry Cowen Clare Limerick Mayo Offaly

FIANNA Fáil’s now former FIANNA Fáil’s now former IN THE same block of votes FOR the entirety of the now- communications spokesman foreign affairs spokesman as the Dooley-Collins debacle infamous voting block Niall told the Dáil clerk Peter repeatedly told Mr Finnegan’s occurred, the party’s Brexit Collins was occupying Barry Finnegan’s inquiry that he inquiry that he believed spokesperson voted in her Cowen’s seat as he voted and wanted to speak to Niall Mr Dooley was in the Dáil deputy leader Dara Calleary’s cast Mr Dooley’s vote. He said Collins on the day of the votes. chamber during the votes. Dáil seat when he was not in he didn’t consider switching “I saw him, I needed to Mr Collins said even after the chamber. seats with Mr Cowen as they speak with him. I said I’ll see voting three times for Mr “I pressed the button and had voted this way before. you at the vote but I have to Dooley he “didn’t realise he looked up at the screen Mr Cowen told Mr take a call. I left and couldn’t [Dooley] was gone”. to make sure my vote had Finnegan’s inquiry this was come back. I left everyone in a When Mr Finnegan registered. It was at that “not necessarily” unusual and difficult position,” Mr Dooley pointed out this was an 18 to stage that I realised I was in that when he came into the said. 20-minute period and asked the wrong seat,” she told Mr chamber he registered his vote Video shows Mr Dooley “did alarm bells ring?”, Mr Finnegan. in Mr Collins’s seat. pointing at the Dáil seats Collins responded: “No and it “It is a force of habit that I Mr Cowen said: “I’m voting before he leaves the chamber. should have.” looked up at the screen. I then on his, he’s voting on mine “I was indicating that ‘I’ll At one stage he was seen hopped over and voted for but it saves us reaching across see you at the votes’,” he taking a “quick 10 second myself.” each other.” explained. He said he is “clear phone call in the chamber”. Mr She did not inform the tellers He said he did not believe he on that fact” that he did not Collins said he could not recall of having double-voted. “I needed to correct the record. ask Mr Collins to vote for him. who phoned him. didn’t think it was a massive “I never did before if similar “I’ve learned a hard lesson,” He voted for Mr Dooley six issue so I left it,” she said. circumstances arose. You’d he said. “I owe apologies, I times but not for the final two “I never made this mistake have lads voting for each was sloppy and I should have of the eight votes which took before, what a day to do it. In other when up the back of the delayed taking a call and place that day. Asked why this the moment, I left it as it was a chamber but no one queues instead concentrated on the was, Mr Collins said: “I don’t big loss the vote in question. It with the Whip to correct the voting.” know, I can’t explain that.” is too casual altogether.” record.”

POLITICS

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl Howlin recalls former Tánaiste Spring going to Dáil on stretcher to ensure his vote counted e in class because no one will own up Kevin Doyle Car Mr Howlin blames accident: confidence and supply FORMER Tánaiste Dick Dick Spring arrangement for the current Spring had to be brought into had to be Votegate controversy, “I will deal with that later,” the Dáil on a stretcher to vote present in the saying the Government now Chaos, said Micheál. after a serious road accident, Dáil when regularly loses votes and turmoil “For God’s sake,” interjected has recalled. there was a nobody pays attention. . The Wexford TD said tight vote He wants a system similar and farce “Trivialisation,” dismissed up until the current Dáil, to the European Parliament – e-voting Louise O’Reilly. voting was seen as being of introduced, whereby TDs takes Much sniping and heckling Comment “monumentally importance” would be required to insert almost as made it all too clear we have No reason but it has now been a card into the Dáil voting reverted back to the old ways. to believe “cheapened”. machine in order to activate long as the Then one by one, the four Speaking on Independent. accident in Tipperary in evening and meeting Martin it. old way Fianna Fáil deputies rose to next Dáil ie’s ‘Floating Voter’ podcast, December 1981. Cullen who suffered terribly He said the machines are deliver their apologies, Timmy will be he refers to one incident “I remember Dick Spring with his back. already equipped for log-in Dooley quaking so much his any more in the early 1980s when his being carried in on a stretcher “He was ashen with agony cards but parties previously papers threatened to leap out predecessor as to vote. In tight votes, he was and I said to him, ‘for God’s argued against them. of his hands. dynamic leader wasn’t allowed to miss required to be present and sake, you’re not physically fit Also on the ‘Floating Voter’, After it was over, he exhaled than this a vote despite being seriously physically brought into the to be here’. But the whips said he discusses the latest sharply and gave a helpless one injured. chamber because at the time he had to be there to vote. developments on Brexit and shrug to Martin Collins as Jason Mr Spring, a junior minister he wasn’t allowed a pair,” Mr “Up to this Dáil, votes were suggests the Labour Party smiled grimly. at the time, was a passenger Howlin says. deadly serious matters and will enter a coalition after the Confidence is officially in O’Mahony in a garda-driven car which “I remember myself coming people took them deadly next election if they have the short supply. 28 was involved in a fatal out of the chamber one seriously.” numbers. IRELAND’S BEST-SELLING NEWSPAPER Schmidt ready for Dating in coaching return your 50s Lifestyle next season Sport Why it’s hard to find love Page 36

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) C Votegate: now it’s war

Scandal deepens: Fianna Fáil reports five Fine Gael ministers over voting irregularities

Philip Ryan, Fionnán Sheahan During a day of high politi- grave” voting revelations, first Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Fáil housing spokesman the party’s chief whip Michael and Cormac McQuinn cal drama in Leinster House, reported by the Irish Independ- Martin admitted he had voted Darragh O’Brien was sitting Moynihan was the result of Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó ent, while a separate probe will on behalf of Dáil colleagues. in Mr Martin’s seat as he was the party reviewing more THREE separate Dáil investi- Fearghaíl announced a two- be carried out by an Oireachtas And it has emerged his vote taking the legislation for the than a year of Dáil footage to gations have been launched pronged investigation into ethics committee. But within was recorded while he was party. establish whether Fine Gael into alleged voting irregular- four Fianna Fáil TDs involved hours of the announcement, apparently not in the chamber Mr O’Brien last night admit- TDs were absent from the ities as the ‘phantom votes’ in the voting controversy. Fianna Fáil wrote to the Ceann during a debate on reducing ted he may have incorrectly chamber when their votes scandal sparked all-out war Mr Ó Fearghaíl said the clerk Comhairle seeking an investi- the number of seats in the EU pressed Mr Martin’s voting were recorded. between Fine Gael and Fianna of the Dáil would compile an gation into the voting records Parliament in February. button. Fáil. urgent report on the “very of five Fine Gael ministers. During the debate, Fianna The Fianna Fáil complaint by Continued on Page 10

Johnson gets 600,000 are victory – but issued with timetable for largest-ever boil Brexit in doubt water notice

Allison Bray Hugh O’Connell THE Environmental Pro- PRIME Minister Boris John- tection Agency is to carry son secured the UK govern- out an independent audit of ment’s first significant victory operations at an Irish Water on Brexit in the House of Com- treatment plant that left huge mons last night – but his plan swathes of the Greater Dublin to leave in eight days’ time Area under the largest boil remained in serious doubt. water notice ever issued. Mr Johnson’s plan to take An estimated 600,000 cus- the UK out of the EU in just tomers were affected due to a over a week’s time suffered breakdown in the disinfection a blow after his proposed process at the Leixlip plant. rapid timetable to pass the Irish Water issued the notice deal through Parliament was at 5pm yesterday. rejected by MPs. It came min- But consumers were left utes after MPs had for the first scrambling for information time backed the government’s after the water.ie website Brexit deal that Mr Johnson crashed, and there was pan- hammered out with the EU ic-buying of water in affected five days ago. areas last night. It was the first time the Com- The EPA said it will assess mons had been prepared to operations at the plant in the support any Brexit deal. coming days. Mr Johnson said he would now “pause” the Brexit legis- Full report: Pages 2-3 lation as it remained unclear when and indeed if the UK Recommended retail price of the Irish Independent in would leave the EU, despite ROI is €2.20 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) the PM’s long-stated pledge to Vol. 128 No. 254 Irish Independent leave ‘do or die’ on October 31 ‘Watershed’: Vicky hails cancer-test scandal apology with or without a deal. Emotional day: From left, Stephen Teap, Vicky Phelan and Lorraine Walsh outside the Dáil yesterday after hearing Taoiseach Full reports: Pages 12-13 Leo Varadkar apologise to the victims of the CervicalCheck scandal. FULL STORY, PAGES 4-5 PHOTO: SAM BOAL/ROLLINGNEWS.IE