Select body may consider Callely expenses

SEANAD REPORT:THERE WAS no clear indication on how the issue of expenses claims by Ivor Callely (FF) would be handled, deputy Seanad leader Dan Boyle (Greens) said.

His understanding was that the Select Committee on Members’ Interests would consider if it or some other body should investigate the matter.

It was to be hoped that after consideration by the committee, it would become clear if the outcome of any investigation would be available for determination by the House.

Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, said the work of the Oireachtas was suffering as a result of the failure of Mr Callely to provide a comprehensive statement about his expense claims.

Rónán Mullen (Ind) said if the matter was to go to the committee, there was a need to guarantee due process. There was a danger that in venting their views, some Senators might undermine their ability to examine the issue within the committee.

Eugene Regan (FG) asked if the House would have an opportunity to consider the committee’s report, or was it intended that that body would make a final conclusion on the matter.

Mr Regan was challenged by Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan when he spoke of “an issue of fraud by a member of this House.” He said he was not suggesting that anyone had committed fraud.

Liam Twomey (FG) said the Irish people would agree with the Taoiseach in seeking a clear statement from Mr Callely about what was going on. There was a moral issue as to whether it was wrong to draw expenses to which one was not entitled. A similar issue had been raised in the Dáil in relation to a former ceann comhairle. It had not been dealt with in committee, though the individual concerned had sought that approach, but had been dealt with on the floor of that chamber. “That is what we look for here.”

Shane Ross (Ind) said recent appointments to the board of Anglo Irish Bank appeared to be disgraceful. One appointee was a former Fianna Fáil fundraiser and the other was a bank insider who had been in AIB when the frenzy of property development had been getting out of hand. If these appointments could not be examined by the House, who could scrutinise them? Something must be done to ensure such oversight.