Senator Ivor Callely today asked for an Oireachtas committee to investigate his controversial €81,000 expenses claims.
In a statement to the Seanad, the Fianna Fáil representative said he believed he should be given the chance to explain why he claimed overnight and travel expenses from his west Cork property for two years.
The claims were made despite Mr Callely, a former TD for Dublin North Central, stating on his website he maintains his Dublin home and constituency office in Clontarf. His home in Kilcrohane in Co Cork is 370km from Dublin.
Mr Callely today asked for the Select Committee on Members’ Interests to take up the case after Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday called on him to explain himself.
The senator said he was conscious of the "distraction" caused by his expenses. "I very much regret any distraction brought to this House and to members. I am equally conscious of my family, wider circle of friends and loyal supporters,” he said.
Mr Callely said he recognised the difficulties the matter had raised and he was prepared to co-operate to address them.
“I know most will appreciate this issue is difficult to address by way of a simple statement here today,” he said. “The expense regime is complex and there are anomalies in the system. I, like others, am deeply upset and concerned at the presentation of my expenses and the negative complexion this has put on me and this House and the profession of politics.”
The senator said reports so far on his financial claims did not give the full picture and he looked forward to a speedy and satisfactory resolution of the controversy. “I’ve always indicated that I have a west Cork residence, a Clontarf home and a constituency office in Dublin north central and I travel from all three depending on circumstances to fulfil my Seanad duties,” he said. “I understand that I complied with regulations. There are anomalies in the expenses regime, which were a consideration, and I have raised such matters with the Oireachtas.”
Some months after being nominated to the Seanad in 2007 by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr Callely began claiming travel and overnight expenses from his holiday home in Kilcrohane, west Cork. In all he claimed some €81,000 in expenses until late last year when he stopped claiming for what he described as his "abode" in Cork.
It emerged yesterday Mr Cowen had not spoken to Mr Callely about the matter but had asked Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan to instruct the Senator to furnish a full explanation in writing "that will clarify the issue" to the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Pat Moylan. Mr Moylan chairs the Seanad Committee of Members' Interests and also its Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Fianna Fáil said Mr Cowen was concerned that all members of both Houses of the Oireachtas should fully comply with the rules. Mr Cowen acted following the publication in a Sunday newspaper of details of Mr Callely’s travel expenses.
The Oireachtas yesterday posted on its website the expenses paid to Senators for March and April 2010.
The highest expenses paid were to Donegal Fianna Fáil Senator Brian Ó Dómhnaill, who was paid €3,925 each month. Those who received over €3,500 each month included Senators Dan Boyle; Denis O’Donovan; Fidelma Healy Eames; Jerry Buttimer; John Paul Phelan; Liam Twomey; Niall O’Brolchain; Paudie Coffey; Phil Prendergast and Paul Bradford. The figures show that more than 40 of the 60 Senators receive over €3,000 each month.
Mr Callely’s expenses are recorded as zero for both months. In March he handed back a cheque for €3,987, stating he wished his expenses and allowances to reflect his actual expenses.
Mr Callely was forced to resign as minister of state for transport in 2006, when it emerged that a builder had painted his house for nothing and he had not disclosed this to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
Fine Gael Seanad leader Senator Frances Fitzgerald said Mr Callely's statement was little more than "a threadbare defence of his claims". She repeated her call for him to make "a full and clear" statement on the matter.
Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the issue was further damaging the perception of politics in Ireland and called for any inquiry into Mr Callely’s expenses to be held in public. “It is also very important that the Oireachtas ensures that all other TDs and Senators are claiming the correct mileage,” he said.