‘Questions need to be answered about expenses’

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe indicated that Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue may have questions to answer about his expenses and whether he should return some of the costs of his foreign travel.

The minister said people have a right to be concerned about expenses of all public office holders and said the Government’s own concerns about expenses have already resulted in moves to reduce TDs and senators expense rates.

When asked by reporters in Cork if Mr O’Donoghue should hand back some of the money spent on his foreign and domestic travel since becoming Ceann Comhairle, Mr O’Keeffe said it was not a question for him to answer.

“That’s a question for John O’Donoghue himself. It’s a matter for John to consider what has been said and to decide for himself.

“John O’Donoghue has, at this point in time, the majority of the Dáil [supporting] him and while he holds that particular majority he will remain as Ceann Comhairle,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

He said the Kerry South TD had already apologised in relation to the level of expenses he incurred while in his previous job as Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister, which totalled more than €500,000.

Mr O’Keeffe also responded to questions raised by opposition leaders about the high level of staffing in his party colleague’s office, compared with previous occupants of the Ceann Comhairle’s seat.

“When John O’Donoghue came into office, one of the things he wanted was to expand the role of Ceann Comhairle, to bring politics and national politics to the people and particularly to the schools.

“And if you look at the itinerary of schools that have been visited, the integration of TDs, senators and those schools it has been a very important and progressive step in terms of enlightening schools and pupils as to constitutional rights and to the interaction of politics,” he said.

While refusing to comment on whether Mr O’Donoghue would survive in the position as a result of the controversy about his expenses, the minister said people have a right to be very concerned about the general issue of non-vouched expenses and their appropriateness.