Sinn Fein is calling on Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris to give a "full account to the Dáil" regarding its investigations into its former senator Martin Conway.
Fine Gael has initiated a disciplinary process into the Clare-based senator after he confirmed yesterday that he had been arrested by gardaí last month, but failed to inform party headquarters.
In a statement, the senator said he was arrested on 22 January on O'Connell Street in Dublin "for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol" but was released from custody a few hours later.
As he did not disclose this to his party, Fine Gael is to commence a disciplinary process which could result in censure, admonishment or advice, fines, suspension from all rights and privileges or expulsion from the party.
The now independent senator had been the subject of a separate Fine Gael inquiry in 2020, arising from an incident which happened in 2018.
It is understood that Mr Conway had been accused of acting in an inappropriate manner with a female Oireachtas staff member working for a Fine Gael politician in a bar in Dublin.
In a statement, a Fine Gael spokesperson said the accusation was "put to the person concerned" [Senator Conway] and that he "subsequently apologised".
The spokesperson added that this apology was conveyed to the female and it "... was accepted ... and agreed that no further action was required by the [Fine Gael] party.
"The other party [the female Oireachtas staff member] has asked that their privacy be fully and absolutely respected, and no contact be made with them by media outlets.
"The other party does not wish to see any material published which risks identifying them.
"In responding to media queries, the party [Fine Gael] is very conscious to protect the rights of the other party involved [ie the female Oireachtas staff member].
"In line with this position, responses to any media queries have and will be agreed with the other party's consent and knowledge," the spokesperson added.
Tonight, Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly said the Tánaiste needed to give a full account to the Dáil about what has transpired in both incidents.
She said that revelations that Senator Conway donated €10,000 to charity as part of an apology for alleged inappropriate behaviour in 2018 "... suggests that this was a serious allegation".
Deputy O'Reilly added: "Simon Harris must inform the public who knew what and when, so that the public can have confidence in Fine Gael having the correct protection procedures in place to deal with such matters."
