Fianna Fáil's Dooley was absent from Dáil when his votes recorded

The Ceann Comhairle has said that he is seeking a report for his "urgent attention" on the conduct of Dáil votes.

It comes after Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley admitted he was absent from the Dáil chamber when his vote was recorded six times last Thursday.

The Clare deputy said he went into the Dáil when the voting bell sounded but he then left to take a phone call.

"I understand from Niall Collins, that under the mistaken belief that I was at the back of the chamber on the phone, he pressed my voting button. I have spoken to the Ceann Comhairle today, to explain what happened and apologise for the misunderstanding," Mr Dooley said this afternoon.

Niall Collins confirmed this afternoon that what Timmy Dooley said in his statement was correct.

In a statement, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl said that the integrity of the voting system in the Dáil is of the "utmost importance".

He said: "Further to media reports on votes in the Dáil last Thursday 17 October 2019, I have asked the Clerk of the Dáil to prepare a report on the conduct of the votes for my urgent attention."

Earlier, Fine Gael TD Noel Rock described as "very worrying" the notion that any TD could be recorded as voting while absent from the chamber.

He said one of the most important jobs a TD has is to vote on legislation in the Dáil.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan called for the Oireachtas Committee on Procedure and Privileges to investigate the incident.

He also called for last Thursday's Dáil votes to be re-taken, due to what he described as the "disgraceful behaviour of Fianna Fáil TDs who brought the integrity of the votes and that of the Dáil into disrepute".