GALWAY EAST TD COLM KEAVENEY VOTES AGAINST SOCIAL WELFARE BILL

Date Published: 13-Dec-2012

The Government's lost another backbencher - the Galway East TD Colm Keaveney's voted against the Social Welfare Bill saying the budget is "regressive".

Deputy Keaveney says he made the decision "with a very heavy heart" and while he loses the Parliamentary Labour Party Whip he intends staying on as chairman of Labour.

He says he waited until now to cast his vote against the government because he was trying to have measures reversed.

Deputy Keaveney says there's no reason for him to leave his position as chair of the labour party:

Mr Keaveney joins four other Labour colleagues on the independent benches - he'll be seated beside Roisin Shortall, Patrick Nulty, Tommy Broughan and Willie Penrose.