Expenses pressure mounts on Ceann Comhairle

A GARDA-DRIVEN Audi A6 travels from Dublin to collect John O’Donoghue at Kerry Airport when he flies home to his constituency for weekends at the expense of taxpayers, it has emerged.

Pressure is mounting on the embattled Ceann Comhairle, with Fine Gael saying he should consider his position if he does not deal with the controversy by repaying some of the expenses and reducing his staff numbers.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore last night claimed that the expenses saga is doing “serious damage” to the Dáil “and to our democratic system” and is seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the matter.

In the latest of a string of revelations about his expenses, it emerged on Friday that Mr O’Donoghue flew from Dublin to his home constituency at least 50 times since taking up the position of Ceann Comhairle in June 2007, at the cost of €13,300 to the taxpayer.

A spokesperson confirmed last night that when he makes this domestic flight, usually on a Thursday evening when the Dáil breaks for the weekend, “the car goes down ahead of him and would meet him at Farranfore Airport”.

The cost to the state of providing the Audi A6 and the Garda driver is on top of Mr O’Donoghue’s claims of €13,500 on chauffeur-driven cars and non-air transport since taking up the job of Ceann Comhairle in June 2007.

Mr O’Donoghue has already apologised for the €550,000 of bills he ran up as Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism before getting the position of Ceann Comhairle.

But he is under further pressure after details were made available of his €230,000 expenses since taking up his current job.

Mr Gilmore will this week invite party leaders to discuss how the scandal “should be appropriately addressed and what further steps need to be taken to restore public confidence in the operation of the Oireachtas”.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will tomorrow meet with his party’s representatives on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission – a group of TDs chaired by Mr O’Donoghue which oversees the funding of the Dáil and Seanad.

The commission meets this Wednesday, and Mr Kenny will instruct the Fine Gael members to demand Mr O’Donoghue gives back any expenses “not directly linked to the office and function of Ceann Comhairle” including flights for his wife.

They will also demand he reduce his staff levels, including the removal of the position of political adviser.

“If these matters are not dealt with immediately, the Ceann Comhairle should consider his position,” a spokesperson for Mr Kenny said last night.

Mr O’Donoghue’s Fianna Fail colleague Dick Roche appeared to criticise his lavish expense claims. Speaking on Newstalk Radio, Mr Roche said: “If you are asking me would I be involved in this type of expenditure, the answer would be an emphatic no.”