Senator resigns FF party whip

Senator Larry Butler has resigned the Fianna Fáil whip tonight.

He is also submitting himself for investigation over his expenses, but insists he will clear his name.

Meanwhile Senator Ivor Callely is so far resisting pressure from within Fianna Fáil to resign the whip before it is removed from him.

Senator Butler was elected to the Seanad from South Dublin after serving as a Councillor there for 16 years, and on a ticket that there were too many rural senators.

But he moved to his birthplace of Graiguenamanagh in Co Kilkenny.

In a statement tonight he said he did not sell his Foxrock property in Dublin because of the downturn, that he stays there on Seanad sitting days and for "practical purposes" all correspondence is addressed to there.

But he is adamant the concerns about his expenses claims are ill founded.

He admits the controversy is a distraction, and states he has resigned the Fianna Fáil whip until he deals with the issues at the Seanad Committee on Members Interests where he says he will clear his name.

Tonight Senator Callely is maintaining his silence, having made no contact with the FF party as plans continue to remove the whip from him at a meeting next week.