THE Labour Party has instructed its TDs to cancel attendance at all constituency clinics and functions during Dail sitting hours.
Instructions were last night laid down for Labour TDs by the chief whip. Mr Brian Fitzgerald, to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the embarrassing Dail defeat suffered by the Government last week.
However no disciplinary action is to be taken against the five TDs who failed to attend the Dail vote on the Dublin Light Rail Bill. They were Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, Mr Joe Costello, Mr Jim Kemmy, Mr Derek McDowell and Mr John Mulvihill.
At last night's 90 minute meeting, Mr Fitzgerald asked every TD to give a commitment not to miss a vote until an official pairing arrangement was in place.
No Labour TD should arrange any meetings in their constituency while the Dail is sitting.
Political clinics currently organised during sitting days must be cancelled "immediately" and party TDs will not be permitted to attend council or corporation meetings during Dail time.
"No TD can leave the Dail without clearing it with me, and where TDs have a problem I will discuss it with a view to co-operating. We must act professionally as a political party and be seen to act professionally," Mr Fitzgerald added.
Lessons had been learned from last week's failure to attend votes and "we do not expect a recurrence
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, who attended last night's meeting, said he expected his TDs to be present when the House was sitting.