Healy-Rae to pay €2,600 for phonecalls

INDEPENDENT TD Michael Healy-Rae has bowed to pressure to pay €2,600 for thousands of phonecalls made within Dáil Eireann that helped him win a television show.

Facing at least one inquiry over the calls, originally paid for by taxpayers, he claimed he had no role in the 3,636 phone votes to the show made from inside Leinster House.

However, the Kerry South TD yesterday told the chair of the Dáil he would foot the costs.