Ahern 'not impressed' with claims surrounding Callely

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today told the Dáil he was not impressed with allegations that a contractor had paid for work to be carried out on the home of embattled Minister of State Ivor Callely.

Mr Ahern said he had tried to contact the Minister of State at the Transport Department last night and today with no success.

In an ominous signal on his future he said: “Minister of State Callely has worked hard in his job but he is surrounded in a number of controversies but part of my standards is I have a sense of fair play to listen to the deputy but I am not impressed.”

As opposition clamour for the sacking of Mr Callely threatened to overshadow the Budget, Mr Ahern insisted he would speak to him in the course of the day.