An Independent TD who voted against the Government’s abortion Bill and has been removed from the 
Oireachtas Health committee has described the move as “iron-fisted”.
Denis Naughten (pictured), who lost the Fine Gael party whip in 2011 for voting against the downgrading of Roscommon Hospital, was among a number of TDs formally removed from various committees which met yesterday, the Irish Times has reported.
Criticising Mr Kenny’s stance, Mr Naughten pointed out he had been allowed to remain on the health committee from July 2011 until yesterday despite repeatedly voting against the Government.
“He has been very iron-fisted in relation to it. I suppose that’s his prerogative. It’s important that alternative voices put forward in relation to legislation should be listened to and not penalised,” Mr Naughten said.
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) also condemned the move, describing the decision to strip Mr Naughten of his committee position as “autocratic and heavy-handed”.
PLC spokesperson Cora Sherlock said that it was clear “that the Government is not prepared to tolerate any dissent at all on the abortion issue”.
She said: “As a member of the Health Committee, Deputy Naughten raised very serious and legitimate concerns over the legislation and proposed a reasonable amendment.
“Deputy Naughton also voted against the abortion Bill in the Dáil because, like many others, he was opposed to introducing abortion on the grounds of threatened suicide where there is not a shred of evidence that abortion is a treatment for suicidal feelings.”
“It is unacceptable that the Government is behaving in such an autocratic and heavy-handed manner in an attempt to drive alternative voices out of the debate”, Ms. Sherlock concluded.
Dublin South TD Peter Mathews, who lost the Fine Gael whip after voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, was discharged from the public service oversight and petitions committee.
Expelled from the transport and communications committee were two TDs now outside the parliamentary party as a result of defying the Government’s stance on abortion legislation: Terence Flanagan of Dublin North-East and Brian Walsh of Galway West.
Fine Gael is expected to sanction two Senators who lost the whip when they voted against the Bill this week. Paul Bradford, who is married to former minister of state for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, sits on the justice committee and Fidelma Healy-Eames is a member of the committee on education and social protection.