Committee begins Callely expenses probe

A Seanad committee has now begun investigating the expenses claimed by Senator Ivor Callely.

He is under renewed pressure after failing twice to furnish a written explanation of the €81,000 he had claimed by using a west Cork address, when he has a home and constituency office in Dublin.

Fianna Fáil TD Mary O'Rourke meanwhile said she has "absolutely no faith in the so-called committee" investigating their own colleague.

And she hinted that others may have claimed expenses by simillar means.

It has also emerged that the committee has received a complaint from a member of the public about Mr. Callely's expenses.

And in the Seanad earlier today Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan was asked to withdraw suggestions that a fraud may have been committed.