ALL PAIRING arrangements for Senators from the Coalition parties have been cancelled following a rare and embarrassing defeat for the Government in the upper house yesterday.
Fine Gael leader in the Seanad Frances Fitzgerald described it as a "historic victory for the Opposition".
In a debate on the Charities Bill, which was at committee stage in the Seanad yesterday, an amendment was passed by 19 votes to 18 amid much confusion and prolonged protests from Fianna Fáil Senators, who claimed that the voting procedures had not been followed. Ten Fianna Fáil Senators, the two Green Party Senators and PD leader Ciarán Cannon were absent from the chamber when the vote was taken.
The absence of the two Green Party Senators and confusion over a pair led to the defeat, said Fianna Fáil's Donie Cassidy.
Senator Dan Boyle (Green Party) said he had been delayed on his way back to the chamber and had just missed the vote. "It's a huge embarrassment. We take the business of Government very seriously. On behalf of the Green Party, we have both apologised to the whip," he said.
Fianna Fáil also said it was its understanding that Senator John Hanafin was paired with Independent Senator Rónán Mullen, who actually voted with the Opposition.
Mr Mullen last night said he had "absolutely no recollection" of the arrangement, but said he did not want to say for definite that such an arrangement had not been made.
The Fianna Fáil Senators who were absent were Larry Butler, Peter Callanan, Ivor Callely, John Hanafin, Tony Kett, Lisa McDonald, Francis O'Brien, Ann Ormonde, Jim Walsh and Mary White.
Voting in both the Dáil and Seanad is done electronically but party whips have the option of calling for a manual "walk through" vote.
Fianna Fáil claimed that the Government whip in the Seanad, Diarmuid Wilson, had risen to his feet to ask for a "walk through" as soon as the electronic vote was lost but had not been spotted by the cathaoirleach Pat Moylan. In spite of protests from Mr Cassidy and others, Mr Moylan refused to allow a "walk through".
"It may be the case that I did not see Senator Wilson indicating but, as far as I am concerned, nobody called for a walk-through vote," he said.
The amendment, proposed by Fine Gael's Jerry Buttimer and Labour's Dominic Hannigan, called for sporting organisations to be defined as charitable organisations for the purposes of the legislation.
Fianna Fáil Senators were then granted an adjournment of 30 minutes to allow them to view video recordings of the exchanges. The videos seemed to bear out the contention that Mr Wilson rose to his feet to ask for a "walk through" but was not seen by Mr Moylan.
Mr Cassidy confirmed last night that Mr Wilson had offered his resignation. "I would not accept it," said the Fianna Fáil Seanad leader. "He is without blame as far as I am concerned. He is the best whip I have seen during my time in the Seanad."