Opposition insist on full apology for 'wasting money'
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FURTHER pressure was heaped on embattled Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue last night as the Opposition demanded he apologise for wasting taxpayers' money.
The calls for a full apology came from his political colleagues, with Mr O'Donoghue sharply criticised by both Fine Gael and Labour.
Opposition leader Enda Kenny called on Mr O'Donoghue to express his repentance, and Labour said it should be a forthright apology.
Mr Kenny said Mr O'Donoghue's letter to TDs "does not go far enough in my view". "I think he should make a fulsome apology to the Irish people for the published expenditure during his term as Arts, sport and Tourism Minister," Mr Kenny said.
He added: "I'm not into doing resignations here. Fine Gael has called for a General Election for quite some time. We will set out a programme to clean up all the excesses of Irish politics." Mr Kenny refused to say whether Mr O'Donoghue should pay back some of his expenses. Taoiseach Brian Cowen suggested, however, that the Ceann Comhairle retained his full confidence.
Mr Cowen conceded the issue was important, but said that Mr O'Donoghue held an independent constitutional position.
TD Roisin Shortall, speaking for the Labour Party, said the O'Donoghue statement was unlikely to reassure the public about ministerial expenses.
"An honest acknowledgement that some of the expenditure was simply unjustified, an unqualified expression of regret and a forthright apology to the Irish people would have been helpful."
Labour believed ministers on official duties abroad were entitled to travel in a reasonable degree of comfort and dignity, she said, "but there is an obligation to ensure that expenditure is kept within reasonable limits".
Stakes
The calls for an apology from both main opposition parties will increase the stakes for Mr O'Donoghue, who will preside when the Dail resumes tomorrow. Sinn Fein held fire, but is due to raise the issue in the chamber as soon as TDs return to Leinster House.
The most biting criticism came from Fianna Fail TD Mattie McGrath, who said the Ceann Comhairle had lost all credibility. "This amount of spending is unacceptable. It must be stopped," he said in a radio interview, adding that Mr O'Donoghue's credibility had been undermined and that his Houses of the Oireachtas Commission should be stood down. But like others, he stopped short of calling for the Ceann Comhairle to go. Green Party leader John Gormley said some form of vouched expenses, where TDs and senators provide receipts for expenses racked up, was required.
- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor
