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John O'Donoghue and his travel spending spree
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Source: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/odonoghue-knives-out-over-his-expenses-1904164.htmlMonday October 05 2009
O'Donoghue: knives out over his expenses
JOHN O'Donoghue's position as Ceann Comhairle last night came under the most severe pressure to date after the two main opposition parties demanded he explain his lavish expenses.
In an unprecedented move, Fine Gael's Enda Kenny and Labour's Eamon Gilmore called urgent meetings to discuss the deepening controversy.
Mr Gilmore asked for a meeting of party leaders -- the first sign of a concerted action against Mr O'Donoghue in the face of public outrage over the level of his spending.
Expenses records revealed on Friday showed that Mr O'Donoghue had claimed more than €200,000 in expenses, on top of his salary, over the last two years. But the extent of his spending was overshadowed by the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
However, the opposition last night lost no time in unleashing a potentially damaging campaign against the former minister. Mr Kenny is to summon party members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to a key gathering tomorrow.
One possible demand is that the Kerry South TD pays back money spent on luxury travel for his wife.
It is understood they will discuss asking for the repayment "of costs not incurred directly in relation to the Ceann Comhairle's office".
This is a reference to his wife's travel and other elements such as advertising for political clinics in Kerry.
The Fine Gael meeting will also seek a reduction in staffing in the office of Ceann Comhairle and at Mr O'Donoghue's constituency office in Co Kerry.
It will call for the abolition of the position of special adviser -- now occupied by Dan Collins at a cost to the taxpayer of €100,000 per year.
A spokesman for the Fine Gael leader said last night: "If these and other matters are not dealt with, then he should consider his position."
Despite the call to discuss the scandal, political backing for Mr O'Donoghue within the Government remains steady.
Last night Government chief whip Pat Carey only said that Mr O'Donoghue's ministerial spending had been "within the guidelines" that applied at the time. Other parties were withholding official comment, but will likely indicate their stance today.
A growing loss of confidence in Mr O'Donoghue has become evident since he placed his expenses as Ceann Comhairle before the Dail library on polling day last Friday -- 16 days after he had promised to do so "as soon as possible".
Mr Gilmore said the latest revelations appear to suggest "a pattern of extravagance" which is "unacceptable to the taxpayers".
"I am very concerned at the damage that is being done to office of Ceann Comhairle and to the body politic by the continuing controversy surrounding expenses," he said.
"There is a necessity on the Dail now to consider how this problem should be dealt with," he said.
Upping the ante considerably on Mr O'Donoghue, the Labour leader said he was now seeking further action, although he stopped well short of calling for the removal of the Ceann Comhairle.
Confidence
"This week I will be seeking a meeting of the leaders of all the political parties to consider how the controversy now surrounding the Ceann Comhairle should be appropriately addressed and what further steps need to be taken to restore public confidence in the operation of the Oireachtas," he said.
The latest batch of expenses show Mr O'Donoghue was continuing to ring up over €100,000 a year in costs as Ceann Comhairle, even though he had no ministerial responsibilities.
An outcry followed reports that Mr O'Donoghue, as Ministers for Arts, Sports and Tourism, spent €550,000 on travel, accommodation and expenses in just five years.
It's now emerged that Mr O'Donoghue spent nearly a quarter of a million euro on luxury trips since becoming Ceann Comhairle in June 2007. He has a salary of more than €225,000 a year.
The records show he spent €45,000 on travel in two years, including €13,000 on limousine hire. He stayed in luxury hotels and dined out in Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Butte Chaillot in Paris.
He also spent €11,869 on advertising his clinics in Kerry newspapers.
Mr O'Donoghue will face other TDs at a meeting of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission on Wednesday.
The cost of his frequent travel will be raised at the meeting. Fine Gael TD Tom Hayes said he had been "amazed" at the lavishness of O'Donoghue's trips, and that it had "gone beyond a joke".
Mr O'Donoghue chairs the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission -- which, ironically, oversees politicians' expenses -- by virtue of his office.
Fianna Fail TD Michael Mulcahy, another member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, declared: "It is absolutely imperative that the Commission sets a very high example for everybody else. I am not rushing to judgment at all. I want to hear what he has to say. But from here on in, I want full independent controls and complete accountability."
If Mr O'Donoghue were to resign, he would have to fight the next election if he wanted to retain a seat in the Dail. Only the Ceann Comhairle serving at the time a Dail is dissolved is entitled to automatic re-election.
A motion to remove Mr O'Donoghue could be introduced by any party, and would require only a simple majority to have effect. Such a public move is not thought likely however -- since a resignation would most likely be secured by a "quiet word" if political leaders should deem it necessary.
Wednesday's meeting of the Houses Commission takes place in Leinster House at 5pm.
- Senan Molony, Deputy Political Editor
Irish Independent
Pressure Mounts In Row Over Expenses
Source: http://e-edition.metroireland.ie/2009/10/05/
At this stage, its a damage limitation action some of the parties are doing, while meanwhile praying that the attention don't focus soon after or during more so by the media, back on them too and their expenses - vouched or unvouched.0 -
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I heard Fergus O'Dowd (FG) on newstalk this morning, during his 10 minute interview he spent 8 minutes ranting on about JOD is an great ceann comhairle and an "honourable" person.....He did his best to avoid the questoins about him living the high life at our expense!
Of course he did. I mentioned this ages ago.
Fergus himself in only in the job as a new TD a while back, yet he himself has run up expenses so far of €115,000!
(and thats on top of an automatic expense allocation €40,000 and their basic wage of €106,000 + €40,090 for a secretary!)
(See: http://www.unitedpeople.ie/greed.html)
- and this is a man that campaigned around my area on the promise "Elect me, I'll see about overspending!"
Bunch of liars the lot of them!John O'Donoghue has now joined Ray Burke and Rody Molloy as being described as honourable.....a real honourable group of people (who also screwed the Irish people) as we all know
Wot! Ya forgot about old Charlie H. already!
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