FIANNA FÁIL Senator Larry Butler resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party last night, the first politician to suffer the fallout from the controversy over Oireachtas travel allowances.
In a statement, Mr Butler said he was resigning the Fianna Fáil whip so as to not further distract from the important business of the Oireachtas.
“I personally informed Taoiseach [Brian Cowen] that I have resigned the whip from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, in the interests of the party, and with immediate effect,” he said.
According to all the Oireachtas and Fianna Fáil literature, Mr Butler’s home address is in Foxrock in south Dublin, where he has lived for many years.
Yet, since he has been elected to the Seanad, he has claimed travel and overnight expenses from Graiguenamanagh in Co Kilkenny.
Mr Butler’s statement, expected throughout the day yesterday, was issued shortly after 9pm. The 70-year-old Senator defended his expenses arrangement whereby he could claim €27,000 per annum for travelling from Co Kilkenny as opposed to the €7,000 that is payable to Dublin-based Senators.
He said that in 2007 he retired from business and from Dún Laoghaire-County Council when he was elected to the Seanad, and moved to Graiguenamanagh. He would have sold his Foxrock home if it were not for the slump in the property market.
“I live in Graiguenamanagh, and this is my home. On sitting days of the Seanad, I stay at my house in Foxrock. For practical purposes, all postal and other communication is addressed to these premises.”
He accepted that retaining the Dublin address would give rise to concerns and what he described as rumours. But he dismissed them as ill-founded.
Mr Butler also confirmed that he will refer his case to the Seanad Committee of Members’ Interests, which is already examining the expenses of his Fianna Fáil colleague in the Seanad, Ivor Callely.
“I have confidence that the [committee] will clear my name as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Butler’s resignation will increase the pressure on Mr Callely to resign from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party ahead of the special party meeting being called to expel him.
Yesterday, a succession of senior Fianna Fáil Ministers called on Mr Callely to resign the party whip. The beleaguered Dublin Senator has faced mounting political pressure since it became known he was paid €81,000 after declaring his west Cork holiday home as his principal residence for expenses purposes.
Yesterday, Fianna Fáil officials were unable to get in contact with the Senator. The Seanad Committee on Members’ Interests, chaired by Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan, has launched a formal investigation into his claims.
Mr Cowen said his view was that Mr Callely should resign, and the party was taking the matter very seriously. Speaking in Tullamore, he said he was not aware of any other Oireachtas members who have similar issues over their expenses. Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore said Mr Callely should resign from the Seanad completely. Speaking in Limerick, Mr Gilmore said it was now a matter for the Taoiseach to see him removed from the Seanad.
“He is a Taoiseach’s nominee, nominated by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. His continued membership of the Seanad is a matter for Brian Cowen,” he said.
However, there are no provisions, either constitutional or legislative, that would force the resignation of a member of the Seanad.
A number of senior Fianna Fáil Ministers called on Mr Callely to resign from the party voluntarily. Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said if there was any other Fianna Fáil member in that position they “should come forward immediately”.
SENATOR LARRY BUTLER STATEMENT
I wish to take this opportunity to address the controversy which has emerged and which has been the subject of considerable press coverage. I do so, so as to not further distract from the important business of the Oireachtas and to deal with matters which are clearly of public concern.
I am very proud to serve as Senator, having been elected to Seanad Éireann in 2007. At that time, I retired from business and from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Because my family were all reared, I moved, with my wife to Graiguenamanagh, where I was born. In fact, it is from this home that my daughter married in 2007 and from where my homecoming was celebrated after the Senate election. If it were not for the slump in the property market, we had intended selling our Foxrock house, which, while serving as a councillor from 1991 to 2007, I operated from.
I live in Graiguenamanagh, and this is my home. On sitting days of the Seanad, I stay at my house in Foxrock. For practical purposes, all postal and other communication is addressed to these premises.
I acknowledge that in the minds of some that to maintain my Dublin address in respect of my political activities may have given rise to the rumours which have circulated concerning expenses and allowances, but these are ill- founded.
Notwithstanding the above, I acknowledge that this is a distraction to the work of Houses of the Oireachtas, An Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil and the country; all having more important issues to deal with.
Accordingly, this evening, I personally informed An Taoiseach that I have resigned the whip from the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, in the interests of the party, and with immediate effect.
I propose to deal with this matter with the Seanad Members’ Interests Committee and have confidence that the Cathaoirleach and the committee will clear my name as quickly as possible.
This is what I consider to be the right decision at this time.