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.”

On Wednesday night Mr Callely was given a 20-day suspension from the Seanad for deliberately misrepresenting his normal place of residence in order to claim travel expenses.

Mr Killeen praised the Seanad’s Select Committee on Members’ Interests which probed the expenses saying it was to be commended for discharging its duty “in difficult circumstances”. While his fellow senator, Eugene Regan, has said the gardaí should investigate the expenses claim, Mr Callely has said he “strenuously” rejects the Seanad report.

There has been speculation he may appeal the decision, though he has not indicated that publicly. If he does, it appears unlikely he will receive much support from his former parliamentary party colleagues.

Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Mary Hanafin said the committee had come to its finding “after a fairly intensive discussion and investigation”.

“It behoves all of us in public office to ensure that we are using taxpayers money correctly and properly and, so, I hope that he will do that.”

Meanwhile, the Oireachtas has said it is still determining the precise mechanism by which Mr Callely’s pay will be docked.

Mr Callely earns €69,647 a year as a senator, and has received a 20-day suspension without pay, which will take effect from when the Seanad resumes in late September. But it is unclear how the financial penalty will be calculated. The Oireachtas could, for example, equate 20 days to four standard working weeks — thereby effectively docking a month’s salary. Or it could equate 20 days to roughly seven “sitting” weeks, given that the Seanad sits only three days a week when in session. But the Oireachtas could not state how it would dock Mr Callely’s pay.

Mr Callely did not comment.