FG cllr to learn fate over ethics breach
Earlier this month, the state’s ethics watchdog found Donegal county councillor Terence Slowey had “recklessly” contravened public office rules and claimed unwarranted travel expenses.
Mr Slowey breached ethics laws and ignored the councillors’ code of conduct when he claimed more than €2,400 to attend conferences in Cork and Kerry on the same weekend in 2008, the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) commission found.
A senior Fine Gael party source confirmed that a decision by the party’s disciplinary committee on whether to expel the Donegal representative would be made either this week or early next week.
The committee, which met last Tuesday, looked at the issue of Mr Slowey putting the party into disrepute by his actions.
“It will shortly be complete, they’re considering the matter with the options open to them,” said a senior party source.
The committee can decide to remove the whip from Mr Slowey, effectively ending his chances of becoming the party’s chair of Donegal County Council.
Other options open to Fine Gael are more severe. His membership may be suspended for a number of years, or he may be expelled.
The disciplinary committee, made up of members of Fine Gael’s executive council, heard the councillor’s defence at its meeting last week. The councillor told SIPO he claimed the expenses “in error” and had paid a “huge price politically”.
He received €1,270.99 from Donegal County Council for a conference which took place from October 16-18 in Kerry, in 2008.
But he claimed another €963.87 from the Border Regional Authority for attending a conference in Cork the same weekend.
SIPO found Mr Slowey contravened the Local Government Act and Standards in Public Office Act and acted “in disregard” of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
“The commission is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the contraventions were committed recklessly,” it stated.
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