Roche defends Ceann Comhairle on expenses

A MINISTER admitted staying in a €1,500 a night Paris hotel, in defence of “humble” Dáil Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue as new revelations over the lavishness of his taxpayer-funded trips abroad emerged.

Europe Minister Dick Roche said he was appalled to discover the cost of the Parisian hotel he was booked into as he pleaded for greater understanding of Mr O’Donoghue’s position.

The defence came as it emerged Mr O’Donoghue hired a chauffeur to ferry him around Cheltenham at a cost of €1,400 a day for five days while “Minister for Fun”.

The Europe minister described Mr O’Donoghue as “humble” on Newstalk Radio despite a deluge of embarrassing travel details emerging showing the former Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism ran-up huge bills for the taxpayer to pick up while on official tours abroad.

Mr O’Donoghue has himself refused to defend or justify his lavish expenses, claiming it is a matter for his former department.

Pressure will increase on the Ceann Comhairle to break his silence after the cost of his €6,994 Cheltenham driver came to light. This follows other revelations such as stays at €990 French Riviera hotels, a limo hire in Berlin costing more than €2,400 and the taxpayer being charged €120 so that his secretary could “hire a hat” for an engagement in London.

Mr O’Donoghue is tasked with helping reform the expenses system for TDs.