Callely under pressure to repay portion of travel expenses

DEFENCE Minister Tony Killeen has said former parliamentary party colleague Ivor Callely should hand back any of the Seanad expenses to which he was not entitled.

Attending a function in Cork, Mr Killeen was asked if Mr Callely should have to hand back a portion of the €81,000 he claimed in expenses after listing his West Cork house rather than the family home in Dublin as his principal residence.

“I don’t want to speak about specific individuals or cases, but as a general principle, we should all accept that, in instances where we have got payments we are not entitled to, it ought to be handed back,” he said. “That is a principle that is generally accepted by the general public and is one that in my view should apply in all circumstances.”