Dáil Footage Shows Male TD Pull Female Colleague Onto Lap During Abortion Debate

A male Fine Gael TD has been captured pulling his female colleague onto his lap during the abortion debate last night.

The video, which was caught by the Dáil camera, made its way online and shows FG TD Aine Collins talking to her party colleague Tom Barry during a break in proceedings.

He then reaches out and pulls her onto his lap. Moments later she can be seen getting up and walking away.

A Fine Gael source told the Irish Independent that the incident was “silly” and that “no malice involved.”

She was speaking to him during a break in the abortion debate.

He then reached out and pulled her onto his lap.

UPDATE (10.10am): A Fine Gael spokesperson has spoken out about the incident, saying that it should not have happened.

They said: “It was a piece of horseplay between two people who happen to be friends. I’ve spoken to the female TD involved and she is not in the least bit offended. She saw it for what was, in the moment, just a piece of silliness.”

 

Hat-tip to @treasanc for sending this our way.