Maria Bailey removed as Housing Committee chairperson following internal inquiry

Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey has been removed as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Housing Committee following an internal inquiry into her accident on a swing at a Dublin hotel.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stopped short of suspending Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey or removing her as a general election candidate over the now infamous swing case - claiming she has already suffered "negative criticism" from the public.

In a long-awaited and detailed statement on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Varadkar said despite an independent inquiry conducted on behalf of Fine Gael finding a series of concerns about her actions Ms Bailey should remain in the party.