Fine Gael: DPP should deal with Callely affair

THE Ivor Callely expenses affair should be immediately referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fine Gael demanded.

Senator Eugene Regan said the penalties that could be handed down by the Seanad’s watchdog committee were not good enough and urgent action needs to be taken. Mr Regan, Fine Gael’s justice spokesman in the upper house, insisted the Seanad’s members’ interest committee should refer allegations Callely used forged invoices to claim almost €3,000 in expenses for mobile telephone kits directly to the DPP when it considers the issue on Monday.

Mr Regan said the DPP should have been brought in when the watchdog committee found Callely guilty of deliberately misleading officials as to where his prime residence was in order to claim up to €81,000 in travel allowances.