Replacement of Sinn Féin's Brian Stanley as PAC chair to go to Dáil after 'circus' committee meeting

Sinn Féin has also proposed that Matt Carthy, its foreign affairs spokesperson, be nominated to the committee

Sinn Féin has proposed Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell as the new Public Accounts Committee chair. File photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

The replacement of Brian Stanley as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to go forward to the Dáil next week, after the Dáil Committee of Selection unanimously agreed to the proposal.

Sinn Féin has proposed Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell as the new PAC chair.

The party has also proposed that Matt Carthy, its foreign affairs spokesperson, be nominated to the committee to replace Mr Stanley as a member of the PAC.

During the meeting, representatives for Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour were said to have flagged concerns about the nomination of a new Sinn Féin chair.

It is understood that Sinn Féin’s chief whip, Pádraig MacLochlainn, criticised the decision to not automatically approve the nomination as has happened with all other committee nominations.

However, despite concerns being raised by the three parties, the selection committee unanimously agreed that the nomination of both TDs go forward to the Dáil for confirmation.

Traditionally, these selections go through the Dáil without dissent and no votes are called.

However, given the controversy over Mr Stanley’s resignation from Sinn Féin, there may be a vote called and the Government could attempt to block Ms Farrell and Mr Carthy’s nomination.

'Circus'

One source described the nature of the meeting as “unprecedented”, while another compared it to a “circus”.

There were concerns from some at the meeting of a potential dangerous precedent being set by attempts to block a nomination to a committee, which are traditionally carried out on a cross-party basis.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr MacLochlainn challenged Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour to maintain their position and allow Ms Farrell and Mr Carthy go through unopposed.

“I am therefore now challenging Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party that when the motion goes before the Dáil to appoint Mairéad Farrell as PAC chair and for Matt Carthy to join the committee, that they will be consistent with the democratic system of the Oireachtas and remain consistent with the position they agreed to today,” he said.