FINE GAEL backbencher Denis Naughten defied the party whip and was set to be expelled from the parliamentary party after voting against the Government on the downgrading of hospital services last night.
The Roscommon TD sided with a Sinn Féin motion calling on the Government to live up to its election commitments and retain emergency services at a number of hospitals, including that at Roscommon.
The emergency department at Roscommon County Hospital is to close from next Monday.
While the Government’s large majority meant it defeated the motion comfortably, by 96 votes to 47, the defection of Mr Naughten so early in its term is embarrassing for the Coalition. It may also place increased pressure on other Government backbenchers in future votes on contentious issues.
“My problem was that I had given my word based on a commitment that I had been given by the party. And I couldn’t in all honesty face the people of Roscommon and tell them that I was turning my back on them,” Mr Naughten told reporters.
“That was the position I was left in, the most difficult decision that I have had to make.”
Recently appointed chairman of the Oireachtas health committee, Mr Naughten would have been expected to supervise the scrutiny of departmental expenditure and the processing of proposals for legislation. He is expected to now step down from that position.
Mr Naughten’s constituency and party colleague Frank Feighan voted with the Government, after telling the Dáil he was “sincerely sorry” he would not be able to stand by his pre-election promise to safeguard services at Roscommon County Hospital.
More than 1,000 people protested outside Leinster House yesterday evening.
Earlier Taoiseach Enda Kenny had denied a claim by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that he had misled people on the issue during the general election campaign, dismissing the criticism as “pathetic”.
Asked last night about the consequences for Mr Naughten, Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said he was “dealing with the issue”.
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