THE COMMITTEE investigating Senator Ivor Callely’s expenses claims is expected to report on his case to the Seanad before it breaks for the summer recess.
Mr Callely has been told he must appear before the Committee on Members’ Interest this afternoon for its final public hearings on his case.
The committee, chaired by the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Pat Moylan, will then go in to private session and decide what sanctions, if any, will be imposed.
The meeting was originally scheduled to be held yesterday but was postponed because Mr Callely had a prior domestic commitment. It is understood this was in Spain.
Nor could the committee hold hearings last week, as Mr Callely was attending the annual meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in Oslo, Norway. The trip, which came to an end on Saturday, was paid for by the Oireachtas.
Mr Callely was informed by the committee that he must make himself available for today’s meeting as it is anxious to reach a conclusion on his case before recess.
The maximum sanction that can be imposed is a suspension from the Seanad for 30 days. The committee could also ask Mr Callely to reimburse any expenses that were wrongly claimed. He told an earlier hearing of the committee that he was willing to do so if a finding was made against him.
Mr Callely referred himself to the committee after it emerged he was claiming mileage and overnight expenses from his holiday home in west Cork, despite having his political base in Dublin.
The Senator claimed €81,000 in travelling expense.
At the first hearing in late June, he insisted that he broke no regulations because he was using the holiday home in west Cork as his principal residence after losing his Dáil seat.
He did concede that there were anomalies but asserted that he had been honest in all his dealings in relation to his residence and his expenses’ claims.
Mr Callely was not contactable for comment yesterday.