Whiskey and cigars probe launched

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan launched two internal investigations last night into claims that a senior politician failed to pay a 5,000 bill for whiskey and cigars with Aer Rianta.

Arising from the allegations, Mr Brennan has ordered Aer Rianta’s auditors to compile a report on the affair within a fortnight.

Mr Brennan has also instructed his department’s secretary general to conduct an inquiry within the Department of Transport to quiz accounting and other staff about the claims.

Aer Rianta is also investigating the matter and management is to start trawling through invoices and files from the 1990s this week.

The inquiries centre around a claim the senior politician had 5,000 worth of whiskey, brandy and cigars delivered to his office in a van by the airport management company.

Last night Mr Brennan’s spokesman said full details will be made public as soon as the reports are completed.

“Any comment as to the possible timing and motivation of these allegations will be made at that time,” the spokesman said.

Legal advice is also being sought on the affair, but the spokesman would not elaborate on whose behalf.

According to a report in the Sunday Independent newspaper, it is alleged the spirits and cigars were Christmas presents for friends and constituents of the senior politician and were delivered, fully gift-wrapped, in the 1990s.

At least three invoices were apparently sent to this senior politician, but the bill remains unpaid.

The revelations will further sour relations between the Government and the board of Aer Rianta.

Last night an Aer Rianta spokesman said the airport management company had no comment to make on the matter.

But it is understood information about the affair came to the attention of senior management late last week.

Opposition parties want to know why a politician could use a semi-State company for Christmas presents and why Aer Rianta agreed. Fine Gael transport spokesman Denis Naughten said it raised serious question marks over how Government politicians have used Aer Rianta.