No probe for Dáil phone calls

DÁIL Éireann will not probe the spending of €2,600 on phone calls to a TV reality show but has decided instead to ban TDs and Senators from making premium rate calls.

Despite criticism over thousands of calls made to help politician Michael Healy-Rae win the celebrity show in 2007, TDs will not pursue the matter further.

The Committee on Procedure and Privileges ruled out an inquiry yesterday, with sources saying there was insufficient evidence to identify where the calls originated and who they were made by.