Independent TD Thomas Pringle in hospital after taking ill

Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle is being treated at Letterkenny hospital after becoming ill at his home in Killybegs on Saturday. He is understood to be seriously ill, but in a stable condition.

Mr Pringle, who turns 50 this month, has been a TD since 2011, when he was first elected to the three-seat Donegal South West constituency. He was subsequently re-elected last year to the new five-seat Donegal constituency.

His first attempt to win a Dáil seat was when he unsuccessfully contested the 2002 general election, and he also contested the November 2010 byelection won by then Sinn Féin senator Pearse Doherty.

Married with three children, Mr Pringle first entered politics when he was elected to Donegal County Council in the 1999 local elections. He subsequently joined Sinn Féin, and was re-elected to the council for the party in 2004, but went Independent again in 2007.

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He was employed by the council and worked as a water services engineer.

A regular contributor to Dáil debates on local and national issues, he has spoken on numerous controversies including water charges and services as well as education and disability.

Earlier this year he introduced legislation, rejected by the Government, for a referendum to insert into the Constitution that citizens have specific economic, social and cultural rights which would force the State to provide services they were entitled to.