Boyle raises submission by Callely on property

GREEN PARTY Senator Dan Boyle has claimed that Senator Ivor Callely did not declare all properties referred to at Seanad hearings to the Oireachtas register of members’ interests.

Mr Boyle, a member of the committee that found against Mr Callely in a recent expenses probe, said: "I subsequently saw his entry in the [register of] members' interests. It didn't list all the properties referred to at the hearings.

"It's another peculiar set of circumstances that needs investigation, probably by an authority other than the Seanad committee," he said.

Meanwhile the Seanad investigating committee has brought forward its meeting about the controversy surrounding Senator Ivor Callely's Oireachtas expenses from August 31st to Monday next, following complaints about his claims to the Garda.

Mr Callely claimed almost €3,000 for the purchase of mobile phones and related services from a company that the Companies Registration Office records show had ceased trading.

Minister of State Conor Lenihan yesterday called on Mr Callely to give an immediate explanation to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

A senior Fianna Fáil source said Mr Callely had been in contact with Oireachtas colleagues from his own party yesterday, who had urged him to resign. Mr Callely, who could not be reached for comment, resigned the party whip in June and his membership of Fianna Fáil was suspended “without prejudice” on Tuesday.

The Committee on Members’ Interests of Seanad Éireann, which ruled against Mr Callely in a recent travel expenses investigation, will also discuss the expenses of Senator Larry Butler, who also resigned the Fianna Fáil whip in June, and Senator Ann Ormonde, who retains the party whip.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has written to the Clerk of the Seanad Deirdre Lane about a number of complaints relating to Mr Callely’s expenses, including one from Green Party TD Paul Gogarty about possible breaches of criminal law.

Asked if he thought Mr Callely should resign, Mr Lenihan said: “If what has already appeared in the newspapers is true, then I can see no other course other than resignation for someone in this situation.”

Mr Lenihan said the situation was doing “untold damage” to all politicians and the political system. “I think the time is long past whereby he should be offering an explanation to the party leader about his situation which led to this controversy.”

Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey said: “Clearly the process is in train to provide Ivor Callely with an opportunity to clarify issues that at the moment are allegations in the media.”

Five members of the Seanad committee are required for a quorum. Its membership comprises chairman Pat Moylan of Fianna Fáil, Frances Fitzgerald of Fine Gael, Labour’s Alex White, Independent Joe O’Toole, the Green Party’s Dan Boyle and Fianna Fáil’s Camillus Glynn and Denis O’Donovan.

Senator O’Donovan is currently without the party whip.

Mr Boyle said he was absenting himself because he had spoken out openly about the issue. The committee will meet in private session.

Oireachtas documents show Mr Callely was paid €2,879.64 in November 2007 under a scheme that allowed for a refund of up to €750 every 18 months for mobile telephones, insurance and the installation of car kits.

Receipts from the service provider are required for the claims.

Invoices and receipts relating to 2002, 2003 and 2005 were submitted together by Mr Callely. The receipts were on headed notepaper of Business Communications Ltd. The Companies Registration Office records show this company, with an address at Fairview in Dublin, filed its last annual return in 1993, had a liquidator appointed in 1994 and was later officially dissolved.