O’Donoghue promises to publish expenses if returned to Dáil
The Kerry South TD was elected as ceann comhairle to the 30th Dáil in 2007, but resigned two years later amid controversy over expenses ratcheted up during his tenure as minister for arts, sport and tourism.
As ceann comhairle, he would have been returned to the Dáil automatically.
Mr O’Donoghue has long claimed he was forced out without a proper chance to defend himself. At his convention earlier this month, he referred to the controversy and said the past 15 months were among the most difficult in his life.
He has been selected as a single candidate for Fianna Fáil, but faces a challenge from his former running mate, Tom Fleming.
Mr Fleming had been seeking a nomination at one point, but has now resigned from Fianna Fáil and is running as an independent.
Mr O’Donoghue has raised his profile considerably in the constituency in recent months, and is credited by airport management in Farranfore with saving the PSO flight.
In a newsletter to constituents wishing them a Happy New Year, he lists his achievements including the decentralisation of the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism to Killarney, with 79 staff along with the Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen with 45 staff.
He also claims the Castleisland bypass — which his retiring rival Jackie Healy-Rae is also trying to claim credit for.
Hundreds of thousands of euro have been distributed to sports clubs according to the list.
However, it is the back page which draws attention to his “personal commitments.” Second on the list is to “regularly publish in full on my website my vouched expenses.”
The political system needs radical reform, Mr O’Donoghue says, and he wants to make the Dáil’s work more transparent and more accessible.
First on the list of personal commitments is a vow to maintain his current level of 21 clinics in the constituency, including that at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry on the second Friday of every month.
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