KEAVENEY'S POSITION AS LABOUR PARTY CHAIR IN DOUBT AS HE VOTES AGAINST SOCIAL WELFARE CHANGES

Date Published: 13-Dec-2012

The Galway TD Colm Keaveney has been expelled from the Labour Parliamentary Party, after voting against the Social Welfare Bill in the Dáil.

He said he took the decision with a heavy heart, because of his opposition to budget cuts that will affect women and children.

The Bill, which includes a ten euro cut per month to child benefit and an annual cut of 325 euro to the carers' respite grant, passed all stages in the Dáil today, with a final walk-through vote of 93 votes to 53.

Opposition parties say the move by Colm Keaveney leaves the government in disarray.

The Fianna Fáil leader Micháel Martin says his actions will cause major problems for Eamon Gilmore.

Colm Keaveney's position as Labour party chairman is now in serious doubt.