Senator ‘unfairly’ linked to expenses scandal

INDEPENDENT Senator Rónán Mullen has harshly criticised a Seanad committee for associating his name with three other senators being investigated over their expenses.

In a statement on Monday night, the Select Committee on Members’ Interests confirmed it was investigating complaints against Ivor Callely, Larry Butler, Ann Ormonde and Mr Mullen.

But whereas the first three are being investigated over allegations concerning their expenses, Mr Mullen is not.

The complaint against Mr Mullen relates to the fact that he has refused to name a political colleague who once urged him to falsify his expenses.

In a radio interview earlier this year, Mr Mullen told how, upon his appointment to the Seanad, a colleague suggested he claim expenses from his native Galway rather than from his Dublin home.

But Mr Mullen refused to name the politician, saying it was possible that the remark had been made in jest.

As a result of this refusal, a member of the People Before Profit Alliance made a formal complaint against Mr Mullen.

The Select Committee confirmed on Monday night that it would investigate this complaint, but linked Mr Mullen with the three Fianna Fáil senators in its statement.

“The committee has commenced investigations into separate complaints made against Senators Larry Butler, Ivor Callely, Rónán Mullen and Ann Ormonde,” it said.

“To progress the investigations, the committee will now seek from the senators concerned a detailed statement regarding the complaints made in each individual case. The deadline for receipt of these statements is 10am, 23rd August, 2010.”

But Mr Mullen said it was grossly unfair that his name was associated with the three Fianna Fáil senators being investigated over their travel expenses.

He lodged his own formal complaint to the committee yesterday over its “vague and damaging” statement.

“Given the justified public anger about the abuse of the expenses system, the committee ought to have made clear in its statement that the complaint against myself does not relate to any alleged impropriety on my part in relation to expenses,” he said.

“I am now very concerned that my name should not continue to be lumped in with the names of senators against whom allegations have been made about expenses.”

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday the committee has written to Mr Callely, Mr Butler and Ms Ormonde seeking explanations about their expenses.

The controversy surrounding Mr Callely continues to cause tensions in Fianna Fáil, with Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin refusing to answer questions on the issue yesterday.

She told journalists she had been answering questions about Mr Callely on a daily basis since last Friday and the time had come for the Seanad investigation to take its course.

“I’ve already commented on this. It’s in the process of the Seanad and I think let it take its process,” she said.

“Just because I happen to be one of those ministers who’s out and about all summer everywhere, yet people think, ‘Well, we have to ask her about this all the time’. No you don’t – you don’t.”