Sinn Féin TD writes to Jerry Buttimer asking questions over Martin Conway controversy

Jerry Buttimer was the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad in 2020 and the Cathaoirleach of the chamber from 2022 to 2024

Senator Martin Conway had been subject to a internal investigation over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female party staff member. File picture: Damien Storan

Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly has written to junior minister Jerry Buttimer to ask what he knew of Martin Conway's behaviour when he was in the Seanad.

Mr Conway resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party last month after admitting to being arrested by gardaí for being intoxicated in public. 

He said he had been arrested on Dublin’s O’Connell Street on January 22 for being in an intoxicated state “due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol”.

The senator was subject to a separate internal investigation over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female party staff member. It has since emerged that the staff member at the heart of that complaint had also been at the centre of an investigation into another party member who was disciplined.

During statements on International Women's Day on Thursday, Ms O'Reilly said that she expected her "serious" questions to Mr Buttimer would be answered. Mr Buttimer was the leas-Cathaoirleach of the Seanad in 2020 and the Cathaoirleach of the chamber from 2022 to 2024. He was nominated in 2020 for the leas-Cathaoirleach position by Mr Conway.

Ms O'Reilly said: "I am putting these questions now onto the record, and I expect that they will be answered. As I have said, health, safety and welfare at work is really important, and it is no less important for us here as women working in the Oireachtas.

"We cannot ignore what is a serious issue of health, safety and welfare for the women working here in this Oireachtas and for that reason, I expect that my serious questions that I have asked about my workplace will be answered and will be answered in here on the floor of the Dáil."

In the letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, Ms O'Reilly asks:

• 1. When did you become aware that Senator Martin Conway was under investigation?
• 2. Did Senator Martin Conway contact you on receipt of the complaint made against him in 2020?
• 3. Did you advise Senator Martin Conway in relation to the complaint made against him?
• 4. Did you or Fine Gael obtain the services of a solicitor to act on Senator Martin Conway's behalf?
• 5. Did you inform the Houses of the Oireachtas or the gardaí in relation to the allegation?
• 6. Did you ask Senator Martin Conway to nominate you to the position of LeasChathaoirleach in July 2020 and did you do so knowing that Senator Conway had been investigated by your party and found to have engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards to female member of staff?

Mr Buttimer has been contacted for a response.