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19 Sept 2025
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19 Sept 2025
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has explained he was "surprised" by the news of Martin Conway's resignation.
Clare Senator Martin Conway has resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party following an arrest due to intoxication.
In an interview with Justin McCarthy on RTÉ Radio 1 this afternoon Micheál Martin said: "I am very surprised at what has transpired this morning. I would have known senator Martin Conway. It clearly is a very difficult moment for him on a personal level and I don't know the background of the circumstances due to his arrest.
"As he said himself, he has let himself down and it is very challenging for his family and I think he needs time now to rebuild his life and maybe deal with perhaps the issue that led to the arrest."
In a statement earlier today, Martin Conway said: “In the early hours of Tuesday, January 22, I was arrested by An Garda Síochána on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1, for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol.
"I was detained at Store Street Garda station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later.
"This was not disclosed to the party. I have resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party. I understand that a disciplinary process will now commence.”
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Martin Conway was first elected to Clare County Council in June 2004 representing North Clare and was re-elected in 2009, topping the poll.
He previously served in the 24th Seanad on the Administrative Panel, having been elected in 2011 and his resignation comes a week after being re-elected to the 26th Seanad.
Martin is the third generation of his family to be born with congenital cataracts. When he was just six months old he was taken to London for a series of ground-breaking eye operations, which left him with 16% vision. Rather than going to a school especially for the blind and visually impaired, Martin attended local schools with his brother.
Martin first joined Fine Gael whilst at school in Ennistymon and his interest in politics continued throughout his college career. In 1998 he graduated with a Degree in Economics and Politics from University College Dublin.
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