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THE TAOISEACH has rejected opposition claims that the Government is using Oireachtas committees as “the private property of Fianna Fáil” by removing former Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan and Independent Finian McGrath from three of them.

Mr Behan (Wicklow) resigned from the party and Mr McGrath (Dublin North Central) withdrew his support from the Government because of the over-70s medical card controversy. Mr Behan was removed from the education committee of which he was convenor and from the finance committee, while Mr McGrath was removed from the justice committee.