Sinn Féin to alter disciplinary rules

Sinn Féin is to change its disciplinary rules and establish a new investigation committee to examine internal complaints.

The party’s ardfheis will consider a motion this weekend from the ard chomhairle to change its current structures.

Instead Sinn Féin will set up a new body which will have the power to suspend or expel a party member.

The decision follows a dispute in Cork East where former TD Sandra McLellan accused party colleagues of seeking to undermine her.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy was suspended following an internal review into the complaint.

Chairman of the party Declan Kearney said the update was necessary to ensure Sinn Féin deals with internal complaints in a progressive and fair manner.

He said the previous rules had been in place since 1905 and required updating.

The weekend conference at the Convention Centre Dublin will also consider a proposal to remove the outdated whip system from all Sinn Féin representatives on matters other than those included in the general election manifesto.

Motions

More than 120 motions on housing, the environment, health and internal party matters will be debated and voted on over the weekend.

The party will further commit to its promise to abolish water charges and Irish Water.

The motion from the ard chomhairle will claim the levies are the “brainchild of the Fianna Fáil-led administration”.

It will also pledge to establish an independent commission on water services to determine the most appropriate model to replace Irish Water.

The ardfheis will also call for an all-Ireland strategy to be implemented.

The decision to change the rules came on foot of legal advice to the party.