Callely isolated by party as probe launched

FIANNA Fáil moved to isolate Ivor Callely last night after a probe was launched into his travel expenses by the Oireachtas.

The Seanad watchdog committee’s decision to turn up the heat on Mr Callely and order an investigation into his €81,015 travel allowances claim, triggered a Fianna Fáil action to strip him of the party whip.

The Select Committee on Members’ Interests said it had decided “that sufficient evidence exists to sustain a complaint under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001” after examining a detailed written statement provided by Mr Callely.

The committee has engaged the legal advisers to the Dáil and Seanad to assist it in its investigation after considering complaints from two members of the public.

The size of the expenses claim raised eyebrows as the North Dublin Senator lives just a few miles from Leinster House, but insists he travelled extensively from his holiday residence in Kilcrohane in west Cork over a two-year period.

Anger at Mr Callely had grown sharply within Fianna Fáil after the senator ignored Brian Cowen’s call to explain his position. Instead Callely used a three-minute personal statement to the Seanad to blame the media for the controversy while offering no new facts regarding the expenses claim.

Now Fianna Fáil chief whip John Curran will propose a motion for the whip to be withdrawn from Callely at a meeting of the parliamentary party. This would be done: “without prejudice, and pending the completion of the work of the committee,” according to a Fianna Fáil statement.

It is believed that Fianna Fáil’s attempts to contact Mr Callely to inform him of the dramatic news before its announcement failed.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said allegations by Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan that there was “potentially fraud” involved were “a matter for the guards if there is any evidence”.

Mr Ahern said he was worried about the wider reflection on politics the Callely controversy could have.

Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin openly criticised Mr Callely’s statement to the Seanad on his expenses: “There are serious questions being asked and I believe he should be absolutely up-front and clear about it.”

The probe will not begin until June 14 due to the Seanad going on holiday next week. Under section 28 of the 1995 Ethics in Public Office Act the committee only has power to call for a suspension of a senator for up to 30 days.

Mr Callely has a home and constituency office in Clontarf and a house in Kilcrohane, Co Cork, 370km from Leinster House.

The Cork residence is for sale at €650,000 and Mr Callely says the issues surrounding his expense claims are “complex” but insists he has done nothing wrong.