SF asks Tánaiste to make statement about Conway behaviour

Sinn Féin has written to the Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, asking him to make a statement and answer Dáil questions about the "behaviour of" Senator Martin Conway.

The letter states that "it is of particular concern that Senator Conway allegedly acted inappropriately with a member of the Oireachtas party political staff."

The party wants to know why a sum of €10,000 was paid out in the aftermath of this incident.

"Questions must be answered as to why this money was paid out, to whom it was paid and what was the purpose of making such a payment," the letter asks.

The letter points out that Senator Conway was subsequently supported by Fine Gael to contest both Dáil and Seanad elections.

The letter is signed by TD Louise O'Reilly and Senators Maria McCormack, Pauline Tully, Joanne Collins and Nicole Ryan.

On Sunday, Senator Conway confirmed that he was arrested on 22 January on O'Connell Street in Dublin "for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol" but was released from custody a few hours later.

As he did not disclose this to his party, Fine Gael commenced a disciplinary process which could result in censure, admonishment or advice, fines, suspension from all rights and privileges or expulsion from the party.

The now independent senator had been the subject of a separate Fine Gael inquiry in 2020, arising from an incident which happened in 2018.

Mr Conway had been accused of acting in an inappropriate manner with a female Oireachtas staff member working for a Fine Gael politician in a bar in Dublin.

A Fine Gael spokesperson said the accusation was "put to the person concerned" [Senator Conway] and that he "subsequently apologised".

The spokesperson added that this apology was conveyed to the female and it "... was accepted ... and agreed that no further action was required by the [Fine Gael] party.

"The other party [the female Oireachtas staff member] has asked that their privacy be fully and absolutely respected, and no contact be made with them by media outlets."