Callely ‘exploiting his office’ with ad to boost profile
A photograph of the minister featured prominently in an advert listing the extra public transport services that will be provided in Dublin over Christmas. it featured in yesterday’s Irish Independent.
The opposition accused him of using advertising paid for by the taxpayer to boost his political profile.
In the Dáil, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded a guarantee from the Taoiseach that the advert would be “the last picture of Ivor Callely that will appear in the daily papers at the public’s expense”.
But the matter was not officially listed for discussion, so Mr Ahern was under no obligation to respond. He chose not to.
Afterwards, Labour transport spokeswoman Roisin Shortall said the advert was a blatant self-promotional stunt by Mr Callely, who faces a tough fight to retain his seat at the next election. The Dublin North Central constituency he represents will be reduced from four seats to three.
“It appears that almost 18 months out from a general election, we are seeing a repeat of the abuses experienced in advance of the 2002 general election where Fianna Fáil ministers shamelessly used departmental advertising, paid for by the taxpayer, to promote their own personal and political profiles,” said Ms Shortall.
The Department of Transport, when first contacted, said the controversy was not a matter for it, as the advert had been taken out by the Dublin Transportation Office. The latter, insisted the department had sanctioned the advert. A department official then said she would check who had sanctioned the photograph, and what the cost of the advert was, but indicated this information might only be made available under the Freedom of Information Act.
No further information was made available last night.
According to the Irish Independent’s website, a half-page colour advert costs €15,950. This would suggest yesterday’s quarter-page advert would have cost at least €7,900.
