Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to apologise to you, a Cheann Comhairle, and every Member of the House for what happened here last Thursday. Since 2002, I have been honoured to serve both as a Senator and a Deputy. It has been a privilege to serve in these Houses. With that privilege comes responsibility and I accept that last Thursday I fell short of the responsibility that rests on me as a Member of the House.

I apologise to the House for the fact that when I spoke to Deputy Collins last Thursday, I gave him the impression that I would be in this Chamber during the block voting. I did not ask Deputy Collins to vote for me and I did not inform him that I was leaving the Chamber. I accept and regret that my conduct has led to a controversy that is unwelcome to the House and all of its Members. I should have been here for the block voting because it is one of the most important parts of our function as Deputies. Members of this House will be aware that, in general, my attendance for votes is good. If I had been here, as I am at virtually every Thursday's voting block, none of this would have happened.

I also want to apologise to the House for giving Deputy Collins the impression that I would be in the Chamber during last Thursday's voting. For that, I am very sorry.

4 o’clock

I apologise to the Clerk of the Dáil and the other staff who have had to spend a lot of extra time preparing this report, in addition to their regular work in the House.

I met with the Clerk of the Dáil on Tuesday evening as part of the review the Ceann Comhairle commenced on this issue and electronic voting generally. I would like to acknowledge his objectivity and professionalism and that of the team that prepared this report. I have co-operated fully with the investigation and will co-operate also with any statutory process by the Committee on Members' Interests. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the time to make this personal statement. Again, I apologise to the Ceann Comhairle and Members on all sides of the House.

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