Cork TD 'embarrassed' after missing vote for Taoiseach by getting locked out of Dáil chamber

Cork East TD Noel McCarthy  said. 'I just timed it wrong.' File picture: David Creedon

Cork East TD Noel McCarthy did not cast a vote for Taoiseach on Thursday after the Fine Gael TD was locked out of the Dáil chamber during the roll call vote.

The first-time TD was caught outside the chamber just before the vote was called, meaning that he was unable to return to cast his vote for Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to become Taoiseach.

Mr McCarthy told the Irish Examiner that he was not feeling well at the time, and left the chamber to take medication before he planned to return to cast his ballot.

In the chamber, Mr McCarthy’s name was called by the Clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan, but no response was received. Mr Finnegan looked up to check, before continuing the roll call vote. The Fine Gael TD said that he was embarrassed by the situation and did not miss any of the remaining votes on Thursday.

He said that he apologised to both Mr Martin and his party leader, Simon Harris, for missing the vote, before adding that he would apologise further at a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party next week.

“You learn lessons and it was a costly thing to happen,” he said. "I just timed it wrong. It was an embarrassing moment for me.”

Mr McCarthy did, however, vote in favour of the new Cabinet later on Thursday evening.

Dáil procedure states that when a vote is called, TDs have 10 minutes to access the chamber before doors are locked. The Dáil bells are rung for a minimum of six minutes preceding this, with a further four minutes before the doors are locked by Leinster House ushers.

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There were 171 votes cast by TDs on the nomination of Mr Martin, with 95 backing the Fianna Fáil leader to become Taoiseach, compared to 76 against.

Three TDs did not vote, including Mr McCarthy, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns who is currently on maternity leave after having her first child in November.

Typically, votes in the Dáil are done on an electronic basis but for more significant votes, including the nomination of a Taoiseach and Cabinet, are done by roll call. This involves the Clerk of the Dáil reading out the names of each TD, where they can respond ‘tá’, ‘nil’ or ‘staon’ to indicate their vote.

Mr Martin was successfully nominated as Taoiseach by the Dáil on Thursday, before he was formally appointed by President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtaráin.