Anger over missing TDs as Luas LRT Bill falls

THE Government suffered its first defeat in the Dail last night when one Fine Gael and five Labour TDs failed to turn up for the vote on the Dublin Light Rail Bill.

It led to a dispute between Labour and Fine Gael over two other absent Fine Gael TDs, Mr Paul Bradford and Mr Paddy Harte. A Labour Party spokesman claimed both were also missing, but the Government Chief Whip, Mr Jim Higgins, said Mr Bradfird had been paired with Ms Mildred" Fox, and Mr Harte had permission to be absent because he had broken ribs in a car crash.

The Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr "Lowry, announced his intention to reintroduce the Bill as quickly as possible after the embarrassing defeat. He will be forced to republish, the Bill because its whole principle was defeated at the end of the Second Stage.

The Government Chief Whip said the six missing deputies, who were not among 16 authorised pairs yesterday, would be reprimanded by their respective parties. He also said the Government would not be changing the Bill.

The missing TDs were Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, Mr Derek McDowell, Mr John Mulvihill Mr Jim Kemmy and Mr Joe Costello of Labour, and former Fine Gael minister, Mr Peter Barry.

The Government was notified by the Progressive Democrats, some two hours before the vote at 6.45 p.m., of their intention to oppose the Bill and call a vote. There was no indication, at that stage, that Fianna Fail would vote with them.

The Government was defeated by 62 votes to 61 in the lobbies. The two Independents, Mr Tony Gregory and Mr Tom Fox, and the Green Party TD, Mr Trevor Sargent, supported the opposition.

The Fianna Fail spokesman, Mr Seamus Brennan, said the defeat had serious repercussions for the cohesion of the Coalition.

The PDs, who also described the defeat as a significant event, said that the LRT system, as proposed was highly deficient.