Kenny: O'Donoghue should apologise to Irish people

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has called on Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue to make a fulsome apology for the expenses he claimed while he was Minister for Sport and Tourism.

John O'Donoghue sent a letter to all TDs this morning defending the expenses claims, which have been revealed in a series of newspaper articles in recent weeks.

Mr O'Donoghue had refused to comment on the revelations, including details of €900-a-night hotels, a €1,400-a-day chauffeur during a five-day trip to Cheltenham and a claim for €250 for a water taxi in Venice.

He insists the expenses were all legitimate and were claimed in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines.

Mr Kenny, however, says this is not good enough and Mr O'Donoghue should apologise to the Irish people.