The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that Senator Martin Conway, who has been the subject of a number of recent controversies, was not representing the State when he spoke at a recent political event in Finland.
In Helsinki last week he addressed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) advisory panel on the political participation of persons with disabilities.
The OSCE described the annual event as a “chance to expand research, network with colleagues, and disseminate knowledge about the political participation of people with disabilities”.
Mr Conway, who is visually impaired, was first appointed to the panel in 2021.
More work needs to be done for inclusion & leadership of #PersonsWithDisabilities A great honor to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway & @osce_odihr at the Advisory Panel meeting, in the spirit of #Helsinki+50 conference @IrishEmbFinland @Ulkoministerio @OSCE25FI pic.twitter.com/HElMPdrUF2
— Katja Pehrman (@PehrmanKatja) July 30, 2025
In a post on social media platform X, Katja Pehrman, Finland’s ambassador for human rights, shared a picture of herself and Mr Conway at the event.
“More work needs to be done for inclusion and leadership of Persons With Disabilities,” she said. “A great honor [sic] to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway.”
She tagged the Irish Embassy in Finland in her post.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Mr Conway was not representing Ireland at the event.
“Members of the ODIHR Advisory Panel on the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities serve in their personal capacities as experts and do not represent any organisation or participating State,” they said.
As such, this Department has no role in sanctioning participation or travel of members of the Advisory Panel.
A spokesperson for Fine Gael stated that Mr Conway is “no longer a member of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party”.
When asked about the ongoing disciplinary procedure, they referred to a previous statement from February confirming it had commenced. The Oireachtas did not pay for the trip.
Mr Conway was arrested on O’Connell St in Dublin in the early hours of January 22 “for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol”. He was released without charge.
He resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party just days after he was reappointed to the Seanad administrative panel for a fourth term.
He was further accused of alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female Oireachtas staff member working for Fine Gael.
Mr Conway returned to Leinster House in early July.
Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has repeatedly called for Fine Gael to address the scandal, amid reports that a €10,000 donation was made following alleged inappropriate behaviour.
She told the Irish Examiner that the party and Mr Conway should be able to comment further now he is back at work. Ms O’Reilly said:
There are questions for Fine Gael to answer in this regard and lots of questions left unanswered.
“He is still listed on the Oireachtas website as a Fine Gael member, so they will need to answer for him as a member.
“I would definitely have concerns. I would definitely want to hear from him.
“Fine Gael really needs to settle all of these questions, given that the man is now back in work.”
Mr Conway did not respond to phone calls or text messages.