UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING John O’Donoghue’s position as Ceann Comhairle arising from controversy over his foreign travel was eased yesterday when both Fine Gael and Labour declined to call for his resignation.
Mr O’Donoghue issued his first statement about the expenses bills for foreign trips when he was minister for arts, sport and tourism between 2002 and 2007, expressing “sincere regret” for some of the high costs involved.
In a letter to all 165 Dáil colleagues, that was also simultaneously released to the public, the Ceann Comhairle acknowledged that some of the costs incurred by him appeared high but said it would not be proper for him to become involved in public debate.
Fine Gael and Labour criticised the apology as unsatisfactory and insufficient. But both refused to call for his resignation or question the tenability of his position.
The most pointed criticism of Mr O’Donoghue came, unexpectedly, from a Fianna Fáil colleague. Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath said that the dignity of the Ceann Comhairle’s office had been “dragged into the mire” and described Mr O’Donoghue as having “swanned around like a latter-day prince”.
He said he was not calling on him to resign but told The Irish Timesthat the Oireachtas Commission should be abolished immediately. He also said that Mr O'Donoghue no longer had the credibility to chair the commission.Taoiseach Brian Cowen expressed his full confidence in Mr O'Donoghue.
The Ceann Comhairle’s letter came in response to a series of public disclosures since late July about his foreign travel in that five-year period. Mr O’Donoghue accepted yesterday that his bills for foreign travel had led to “extensive media coverage” and to strong criticism.
The total cost has been reported as €550,000, including his regular use of the Government jet. Some of the more controversial expenditure items have included hotel bills of almost €1,000 a night in Venice and Paris; a €250 water taxi in Venice; and many thousands of euro in limousine hire on various trips including a €400 bill for transfer between two terminals in Heathrow airport. His wife Kate Ann accompanied him on many of the trips abroad.
Mr O’Donoghue stated in the letter that the role of Ceann Comhairle is an impartial one and should be seen to be above politics and controversy.
“It simply would not be proper, however tempting for me, whether inside the House or outside the House, to become involved in public debate concerning my previous roles as minister,” he said.
In his conclusion to the three-page letter, he acknowledged, on a personal level, that some of the costs seemed high and expressed sincere regret. However, he qualified the expression of regret by saying he would not have been informed of such expenditure at this level of detail. He also added that spending was in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines.
Both Fine Gael and Labour distinguished between Mr O’Donoghue’s former and current roles when responding yesterday.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “I am not asking for his resignation. These events happened before he became Ceann Comhairle.” However, he was critical of the letter, saying it did “not go far enough”. He called on the Ceann Comhairle to apologise to the Irish people.
Labour’s Róisín Shortall said the statement was unlikely to give reassurance to the public and said that there was nothing preventing him giving a media interview.
“An honest acknowledgment that some of the expenditure was simply unjustified, an unqualified expression of regret and a forthright apology to the Irish people would have been helpful,” said Ms Shortall.
Asked in Athlone if he had confidence in Mr O’Donoghue, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: “Yes, I think it is important – obviously he is holding an independent constitutional position – that I not in any way detract from the job that he has to do.”
Mr McGrath told The Irish Timesthat the controversy was distasteful and had undermined public confidence.
“His letter raised more questions than it answered. He should have been aware of what the costs were. It’s not good enough and I am appalled and disgusted at the public costs. The Oireachtas Commission should be stood down. It’s very costly and its credibility has now been eroded. Do we need a commission to run the Dáil?,” asked the Fianna Fáil backbencher.