Callely removed from election panel

Senator Ivor Callely will not be travelling to the US to act as an observer in the mid-term elections as earlier reported.

Senator Ivor Callely will not be travelling to the US to act as an observer in the mid-term elections as earlier reported.

The Government Chief Whip's office confirmed tonight that Mr Callely had been removed from a committee intending to travel to the US for the November elections.

The former minister of state has been suspended from the Seanad for over claiming travel expenses to Leinster House from his west Cork holiday home.

He recently resigned from Fianna Fáil after a party disciplinary committee found him guilty of “conduct unbecoming” following an investigation into his mobile phone expenses claims.

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Mr Callely said in a statement he was “devastated” by the refusal of the committee to give him more time to prepare his case.

Fianna Fáil in a statement issued minutes after that of Mr Calley said the senator’s resignation from the organisation with immediate effect had been accepted.

Earlier this month, the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, called on Mr Callely to consider his position.