Contentious Wildlife Bill scrapes through Dáil vote

A NIGHT of high drama in the Dáil saw the Government scramble to victory but lose three of its supporters over a Green Party animal welfare law.

Tipperary South’s Mattie McGrath voted against the Government on the Wildlife Bill, which bans stag hunting, forcing his expulsion from the parliamentary party. Two independents also switched sides to set up showdown talks with Government whip John Curran.

Another Fianna Fáil TD, Christy O’Sullivan, disappeared for the first stage of the vote and although he turned up for the crucial ballot Mr Curran has demanded an explanation.

Were it not for a suspended Sinn Féin deputy, a protesting Labour Party spokesman and a deputy kept out by a medical procedure the Government did not have the numbers to win.

The stand-off came to a head shortly before 6pm.

Fianna Fáil had just started its in-house meeting before the first vote was taken.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen reminded every TD of their responsibility. Mr McGrath and Mr O’Sullivan still abstained. A peace process began with the rebels.

Their abstention provoked Fine Gael’s whip Paul Kehoe to up the ante. He withdrew an agreement to keep two of his TDs back to cancel out two sick men – Sean Ardagh and Noel Treacy.

As the debate closed at 7pm the Fianna Fáil TDs gathered above the backbenches.

Mr McGrath was badgered by his party colleagues.

Éamon O Cuív and Brendan Smith were joined by Máire Hoctor, Michael Kennedy and Ned O’Keeffe. Mr O’Sullivan was absent.

The ushers made to pull the curtains and seal the Dáil.

At the last minute former taoiseach Bertie Ahern left the Chamber. Galway TD Frank Fahey took a phone call to keep it open.

A short time later Mr Ahern arrived back, bringing with him Mr O’Sullivan.

He was sucked in by those canvassing Mr McGrath.

By 7.10pm the two protesters were left alone with parliamentary party chairman John Browne,

“Now Mattie, come on down. The price is right,” called Michael Ring.

Chief whip Mr Curran and his deputy, John Cregan, briefed the Green Party leadership on the situation.

The standard electronic vote was called. The big screen lit up green as each Government TD registered a vote.

The defecting independents, Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry, voted no.

But Cork South West’s Christy O’Sullivan declared himself back on side. Ned O’Keeffe reached to shake his hand but was rebuffed.

Attention turned to his colleague Mr McGrath who was getting his ear chewed by his friend, Cork South Central’s Michael McGrath.

The Tipperary South TD looked sullen. He voted no. The Government still won by 75 to 72.

Fine Gael was not finished. Mr Kehoe called for a walk-through vote. Mr McGrath stayed seated. “If Mattie was a horse he would be shot,” shouted Pat Rabbitte. Mattie McGrath then scuttled down the stairs and out of the Chamber without registering any vote. It was 7.25pm.

The damage was already done. The bill was passed, the Government majority wiped out.