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29/06/2011
Telephone Usage In Reality Show Win Criticised
Following the report linking Independent TD Michael Healy Rae to a reality TV show win four years ago, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has criticised the use of telephone facilities in Leinster House to make calls to a commercial voting line.
In 2007 the Kerry deputy, and son of retired TD Jackie Healy Rae, won the 'Celebrities Go Wild' programme on RTE after over 3,600 votes were cast from a single phone in the Dáil.
The calls cost around €2,500.
The Oireachtas were notified of calls to a '1513' number and later blocked calls to the number.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett said: “I condemn the use of a telephone in Leinster House for such purposes. The misuse of the resources provided to members for their public duties for the aim of voting in a television competition is an outrageous abuse of facilities. I am calling for the money to be repaid in full immediately. I also will ensure that the details of this matter are addressed in full at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures and Privileges.”
Deputy Healy-Rae this morning denied any knowledge of who was behind the calls.
(BMcN/KMcA)
In 2007 the Kerry deputy, and son of retired TD Jackie Healy Rae, won the 'Celebrities Go Wild' programme on RTE after over 3,600 votes were cast from a single phone in the Dáil.
The calls cost around €2,500.
The Oireachtas were notified of calls to a '1513' number and later blocked calls to the number.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett said: “I condemn the use of a telephone in Leinster House for such purposes. The misuse of the resources provided to members for their public duties for the aim of voting in a television competition is an outrageous abuse of facilities. I am calling for the money to be repaid in full immediately. I also will ensure that the details of this matter are addressed in full at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures and Privileges.”
Deputy Healy-Rae this morning denied any knowledge of who was behind the calls.
(BMcN/KMcA)
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