Mystery Oireachtas calls to Kenya cost €2k
Independent TD John Halligan insisted restrictions are required after the high-cost calls to Africa were exposed.
Oireachtas authorities say that confidentiality rules prevent naming the TD or senator.
The Kenyan mobile number accounted for 38 slots in the 100 most expensive telephone calls of 2011 and 2012.
Mr Halligan says that he will raise the matter with ministers and wants it investigated.
“This is fundamentally wrong,” said the Waterford TD said.
“It is one thing to make calls inside the country, and I have had to call a couple of embassies abroad myself on behalf of constituents, but I don’t think this is right.
“From now on, I think TDs and senators should have to get permission before making international calls.”
Fellow Independent TD Richard Boyd Barrett demanded that the person responsible come forward, explain themselves, and pay the money back if the calls were not justified.
“They should own up. There could be a legitimate reason but if they cannot justify it, they should make good on the money,” the Dublin TD said.
Parliamentary officials said they could not name the individual concerned.
“The Houses of the Oireachtas service does not monitor members’ phones as a matter of policy — indeed, a long-standing policy — because members of parliament, and their staff, should be able to go about their work of representation uninhibited and free from interference of any kind,” a spokesperson said.
“Such a policy is part of the contract between citizen and their parliamentarian and helps ensure confidentiality to those who seek representation in their parliament.”
Phone records released to RTÉ show the Kenyan number continued to account for 16 of the 100 most expensive calls from Leinster House in 2013
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