Senator Rónán Mullen has lodged a formal complaint to the Seanad Commitee on Members Interest about his name being included in a statement with three other senators being investigated for expenses irregularities.
The independent senator said today he was appalled to see his name appear in a statement issued by the Seanad Committee on Members Interests last night.
He said the committee had effectively lumped him in and made him one of a “gang of four” being investigated for expenses improprieties. He said the complaint against him was “vexatious” and related solely to comments he made and not any expenses.
The statement said the complaints had been received against four senators. However, three of the complaints related to alleged inappropriate claims for expenses. They relate to Ivor Callely’s mobile phone expenses, as well as complaints against Senators Anne Ormonde and Larry Butler that they were based in Dublin but claiming travel expenses from countries.
The complaint against Mr Mullen was made by the People Before Profit alliance after he said an unnamed colleague had advised him to claim expenses from his native Galway rather than from his Dublin address. Mr Mullen has claimed expenses only from his Dublin address since being elected as a university senator in 2007.
Mr Mullen said it was unfortunate that the Committee issued no clarification about the nature of the complaint against him. “I’m not saying it was calculated. It was certainly careless. I have written to Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Pat Moylan. I have asked him for a meeting.
“I have also asked him to clarify the nature of the complaint against me and to make clear it has nothing to do with the allegations around expenses,” he said.
Mr Mullen has also asked the committee to deal with the complaint against himself separately from the others, on the basis that they are unrelated.
“I do not want to be lumped in as one of a “gang of four” in the next few weeks whom are under investigation for expenses. The issue would be dealt with in advance of the more substantive claims in relation to expenses.”