Watchdog Circles As Calley Pressure Mounts

Pressure is mounting on the embattled Ivor Callely as the Seanad watchdogs fast track their investigation into the growing list of fraud allegations against the Senator.

This morning, the members’ interests committee of the upper house is to bring forward its fraud inquiry by three weeks to next Monday, just as it emerged Callely failed to declare his interest in at least seven properties to Oireachtas authorities.

Mr Callely listed just two properties on the last three annual registers, despite having a partial stake in at least seven other houses at various times during the period.

Mr Callely has so far maintained his silence over the latest allegations, which include forged invoices for mobile phones, worth thousands, and erroneous travel expense claims.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin admitted this morning the controversy surrounding Senator Callely's expenses was an embarrassment to Fianna Fáil. Callely surrendered his Fianna Fail party whip during the initial outbreak of allegations against him relating to the travel expenses he was claiming on travel from his holiday home instead of his primary residence.

Meanwhile, Independent Senator Rónán Mullen has called for the whole system governing political expenses needs to be tightened up to put it "beyond reproach".

Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time last night, Senator Mullen also said there should be an outside adjudicator to decide what expenses should be claimed.

The decision to bring forward the Seanad Committee's meeting has put increasing pressure on Mr Callely to break his silence and address the allegations.

A Gardaí investigation has also been launched into the Callely affair after a complaint was lodged by Green Party TD Paul Gogarty.

The Garda Commissioner has written to the clerk of Seanad Eireann seeking clarification of certain matters over controversial expenses claims from Senator Ivor Callely.

(DW)