No FF expulsion for treaty rebel O'Cuiv

Fianna Fáil TD Eamon O'Cuiv will not face expulsion from the Parliamentary Party after declaring that he is campaigning against the EU Fiscal Treaty.

Mr O'Cuiv has already lost his position on the frontbench and his role as Deputy Leader because of his stance on the treaty.

At the weekend, Mr O'Cuiv declared he saw Sinn Féin as a natural Coalition partner for Fianna Fáil.

This morning on Raidio na Gaeltachta he again defied the party leadership by declaring his intention to campaign against the treaty.

Mr O Cuiv says that he could not do otherwise because of the stance he had previously taken on the issue which had seen him resign the deputy leadership of the party and his front bench role.

He declared the deal done by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on the treaty was a bad one for Ireland.

A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said that at this stage there is no plan to expel Mr O'Cuiv from the Parliamentary Party.

A TD would normally only be expelled if he or she voted against the party in a Dáil vote.