Callely believed to have resigned as Junior Minister

Ivor Callely is believed to have resigned as Junior Transport Minister this morning after talks with the Taoiseach.

Informed political sources said the minister agreed to step down following a telephone conversation with the Bertie Ahern.

Mr Callely has recently become embroiled in a number of controversies.

Over the past month, he has seen several of his staff resigning or seeking a transfer, apparently because he is difficult to work with.

He has also been accused of being more interested in publicity and self-promotion than the political issues he has responsibility for.

However, the most serious controversy raised its head yesterday when it emerged that a leading construction firm had paid for painting work carried out on the junior minister's Dublin home in the 1990s.

Mr Callely has insisted that he simply forgot to pay the bill and that no wrongdoing took place.

However, the Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday that he was not impressed by the matter.