Profile: Tommy Broughan (Ind)
Dublin Bay North: Third TD elected of five
Tommy Broughan is elected on the fourth day of the Dublin Bay North count at the RDS. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times
The coalition Government had been formed, with opposition from just two Labour TDs – Tommy Broughan (68) and Joanna Tuffy. Shortly afterwards he lost the party whip when he voted against the Government on the extension of the bank guarantee. Expelled from the parliamentary party, he never rejoined. A prolific Dáil contributor, he has raised a myriad of local and national issues and has been particularly vocal in recent years on drink-driving legislation and the lack of convictions as well as the use of the poor box. On occasion he has lambasted his former party colleagues for pre-election pledges not kept. He was in conflict with the party for most of his membership, first in 1994 when he opposed the decision to sell Team Aer Lingus when the party was in government. Later, in opposition in 2009, he refused to vote against a government Bill giving gardaí extra powers to deal with gangland crime and in 2010 he again refused to vote against the Wildlife Bill which banned stag hunting. A former teacher, he is married to Carmel Healy.
