Govt Letting Callely 'Off The Hook'

Opposition party Fine Gael have accused the Government of letting Senator Ivor Callely 'off the hook' over accusations of expenses fraud.

Fine Gael's upperhouse spokesman on Justice, Senator Eugene Regan said it was "high time" Minister Ahern acted and ensured the matter was investigated by the Garda Commissioner.

Yesterday, Green Party TD Paul Gogarty and Independent Senator David Norris further bolstered calls for the resignation of Senator Callely as further controversy about his expenses claims emerged.

The Senator came under increasing pressure to respond to allegations that he forged invoices to claim Oireachtas expenses, after it was alleged at the weekend that Mr Callely had used forged invoices to claim €3,000 for the purchase of four mobile phones and car kits during his time as a TD between 2002 and 2006. The invoices Mr Callely provided to claim expenses against were dated several years after the company he alleged provided the phones and equipment had folded.

The Dublin North-Central politician has so far refused to comment. Mr Callely recently resigned the Fianna Fail whip and was suspended from the Seanad after he claimed €80,000 travel expenses from the holiday home.

Speaking today, Senator Regan said the Government's recent drive to tackle social welfare fraud were in stark contrast to the Government inaction in bringing Senator Ivor Callely to account.

"I find it remarkable that Government would go to such lengths to investigate fraudulent social welfare claims, yet takes no action to investigate allegations of fraud and forgery where Senator Callely is concerned," he said.

Senator Regan added: "The damage Senator Callely has done to the public perception of politics and politicians is immense and he continues to bring politics into further disrepute by refusing to comment on the allegations against him.

"No rational explanation has been provided by the Minister for Justice or the Garda Commissioner as to why a Garda investigation has not been carried out into Sen Callely’s €81,000 expenses claim or the latest revelations. The suggestion that a formal complaint has to be made to the Gardaí before it can take action has no basis in law. If an attack takes place in the street where a person is brutally injured, the Guards do not have to wait until a complaint is made to pursue the matter. The same applies here."

Mr Regan said there was an onus on the Minister for Justice to ensure an investigation into the allegations was carried out without delay.

"Minister Ahern had no problem directing the Garda Commissioner to carry out an investigation where he considered the leaking of information in the Trevor Sargent case affected him. Clearly he has the capacity to direct a Garda investigation into claims of fraudulent practices by Senator Callely and if he is to fulfil his duty in upholding the law as Minster for Justice he should do just that," he said.

(DW/BMcC)