AIB SHARES SALE DELAYED AFTER TDS ‘FORGET TO VOTE’
THE Dail has agreed to delay the sale of AIB shares after Government TDS apparently forgot to vote on the motion.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin claimed those in attendance were too caught up in the change of leadership within Fine Gael following Enda Kenny’s departure.
Labour had asked for a delay in the sale of the 25% stake in the bank to seek assurances any money made from the move would be spent on infrastructure and not debt. When Ceann Comhairle Pat Gallagher called for a vote on the issue, no one from the Government answered and Labour’s motion passed.
Mr Howlin slammed the “do-nothing Dail” for setting a dangerous precedent.
He said: “The sequence of events today in relation to the Labour Party motion delaying the sale of AIB shares is an extraordinary one.
“The Government, caught up in chattering about the Fine Gael leadership, neglected to oppose the motion.
“If the Government wants to override a decision of parliament then they should table a new motion and seek majority support. Their disregard for the views of parliament amounts to the final nail in the coffin of this do-nothing Dail.
“The motion put to the House today was agreed and has the same standing as any decision of Dail Eireann.
“For this to be disregarded by the Government is not acceptable and would be an immensely dangerous precedent. I will be taking further legal advice on this matter over the weekend.”
Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty later tweeted: “Gov forgets to call vote distracted by leadership race.”