Naughten loses Fine Gael whip

The Fine Gael whip has been removed from Roscommon TD Denis Naughten following his voting against the Government in a Dáil vote on Roscommon hospital last night.

The Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe confirmed that following a meeting with Deputy Naughten this afternoon, the party whip has been automatically removed - as a result of his failure to support the Government - in accordance with the Fine Gael Constitution and rules.

Deputy Naughten said he had to vote with the opposition after he promised during the election that services at the hospital would not be downgraded.