Labour TD and Party Chairman Colm Keaveney yesterday
resigned both his chairmanship and membership of the Labour Party citing a
situation which he said “is increasingly like a political charade”.
Meanwhile the Journal has also reported that a Labour Party
councillor has said he is resigning from the party over its stance on abortion.
Galway councillor Shaun Cunniffe said he believes the upcoming legislation on
the X Case judgment will open the doors to “social abortion” and that the
Oireachtas hearings on the issue were “undemocratic”.
Galway East TD Keaveney according to the Journal report
issued a detailed statement confirming earlier reports that he intended to
resign his position six months after voting against the Budget and amid
increasing tension between him and the Labour leadership.
Keaveney had refused to relinquish the chairmanship of the
party despite being outside the parliamentary whip since voting against the
Budget and had also publicly differed with the party’s position on a number of
issues including the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.
His resignation makes him the second Labour TD to quit the
party in less than a week after Patrick Nulty’s resignation last Friday.
This will fuel speculation that the newly independent TDs
and other Labour dissidents including former minister Róisín Shortall could
form a new party.
In a statement today Keaveney said that cuts to Special
Needs Assistants, resource hours and the mobility allowances are part of a
“consistent approach” by the government where, he claims, “those groups least
able to defend themselves are targeted for decisive action, while powerful
vested interests are left untouched”.
“Unfortunately I can no longer go along with what is
increasingly like a political charade,” he said.
“We promise one thing then do another and blame it on someone else. The members must accept what they are
given and the leadership will tolerate no dissent.”
He said he feels “alienated” from the leadership of the
party as a result of the policies it is pursuing in coalition government and
said he no longer feels welcome by them.
“I am in no doubt that my presence is no longer welcome by
them. A party cannot function on that basis,” he said.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am forced to reach the only decision I
believe is honourable and resign as Chair of the Labour party and from the
Labour party itself.”
Keaveney has recently come out against the proposed abortion
legislation citing concerns with the lack of term limits in the bill. He
apologised to party members for this but said he had genuine concerns about the
law.
“Labour is a pro-choice party and I never had a difficulty
with that until it came to considering the recent legislation,” he said.
However, I believe it is right to question all legislation in order to
ensure that what we deliver is just and workable. I hope that all can
appreciate that my approach is honest and made with the best of intentions even
if they disagree.
Keaveney said he intends to continue in his role as a TD for
Galway East and took aim at Cabinet ministers from the Labour Party, saying: “I
will not breach the contract that they [constituents] made with me just for the
sake of staying in a position.
“Too many at the cabinet table are willing to trade what they held dear
for one more hour in the sun.”
