O'Donoghue reveals details of €200k expenses

Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue spent more than €200,000 of taxpayers’ money on perks including top class flights, limousines and VIP airport lounges over the past two years, it was revealed today.

Expenses records reveal the embattled Kerry TD booked himself into the exclusive Hotel Raphael in the heart of Paris and dined at the posh Butte Chaillot restaurant owned by Michelin-starred Guy Savoy when on official business.

Thousands of euro were also claimed back for gifts bought while on trips abroad, while car hire on one three-day trip cost the taxpayer €1,543.

Mr O’Donoghue, who last month apologised and admitted he was embarrassed by lavish expenses he ran up while tourism minister, revealed his claims since becoming Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil library on the day of the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Key expenses over the past two years include:

:: €216,334 on overall expenses between June 2007 and June 2009;

:: The Ceann Comhairle spent €79,214 on foreign travel;

:: On St Patrick’s Day 2008 and 2009, Mr O’Donoghue enjoyed celebrations in Washington, Houston, New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston in the US at a cost of €27,074 to the taxpayer;

:: He spent €13,227 on flights between his native Kerry and Dublin;

:: More than €124,800 was claimed for adverts in local Kerry newspapers, phone calls and secretarial services and miscellaneous expenses;

:: VIP lounges in Dublin and other airports such as Paris, Lisbon, Hong Kong and Singapore, totalled €4,461;

:: Mr O’Donoghue claimed €3,474 for gifts while abroad – a “proportion” of which were used on the official visit, according to his records;

:: More than €2,930 was spent on official entertainment, including €330 for a party of five at the Butte Chaillot bistro in Paris and €705 on a lunch in honour of Tourism Ireland and France Group.

In a statement from the Oireachtas, a spokesman repeated earlier claims from Mr O’Donoghue that his office should carry the same privileges as a Government minister.

“Similarly, items of expenditure including use of executive facilities or security are the customary courtesies that Ireland provides whenever it hosts an incoming parliamentary delegation,” the statement said.

“When the Ceann Comhairle travels abroad, it is normal that arrangements made are on the recommendation of the host, giving due regard to criteria such as security and proximity to the venues or to accommodate meetings.”