File sent to DPP over election in Kerry

GARDAÍ have confirmed that a file has been sent to the DPP following the completion of an investigation into the general election campaign in Kerry South in February.

Gardaí in Castleisland investigated a complaint made to them during the campaign, but have refused to disclose further details or name any individuals involved.

Independent TD Michael Healy Rae said he had no knowledge of any complaint being made against anyone working on his campaign as reported in a newspaper yesterday.

Mr Healy Rae, who landed himself in controversy last week over the use of Dáil phone lines, said he did not wish to comment on this or his removal from the Citizen’s Information Board (CIB) over the weekend,

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton wrote to him on Friday to say she was formally removing him from the €5,895 position to which he was appointed before becoming a TD.

The minister was using her power under the Comhairle Act 2000 allowing her to remove persons from boards. These powers were strengthened with the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, enacted last week, which outlines that from the July 1, 2011, no elected representative can sit on the CIB.

Ms Burton had written to Mr Healy Rae twice asking him to resign, saying it was “good governance on all boards” that when a person becomes a TD they resign.

Mr Healy Rae’s membership was seen as a conflict of interest, because as a TD he can vote on measures which may affect or influence the functions of the CIB.

A spokesperson for Ms Burton said it was purely “coincidental” that Mr Healy Rae was asked to resign in the wake of the controversy surrounding calls made from Leinster House to the RTÉ reality TV show, Celebrities Go Wild in 2007.

Mr Healy Rae last week said he would pay over €2,600 for the phone calls, but insisted that he had no involvement in the making of the calls.

When contacted yesterday, the deputy, who won a seat by 917 votes in Kerry South, refused to comment. He said there were enough problems in the country for the media to focus on instead of focusing on him.