Healy-Rae 'to pay phone calls money'
Kerry South TD Michael Healy-Rae has indicated that he intends to pay back some €2,600 in costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of calls to premium rate phone lines from Leinster House.
This lunchtime Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett in a statement welcomed the fact that Deputy Healy-Rae "had committed to paying €2,600 in relation to costs incurred" by the telephone calls.
However Mr Barrett said he still intends to raise the matter at the meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Procedures and Privileges next week.
Deputy Healy-Rae has been in hot water this week after it was revealed that over 3,600 telephone votes cast in his favour during 2007 reality show 'Celebrities Go Wild' originated in the Dáil.
Mr Healy-Rae was a Kerry county councillor and mayor of the county when he took part in the RTÉ show in 2007, broadcast in aid of People in Need.
Eight celebrities, including the late model Katy French, were forced to shun modern living for a week-long trek through Connemara.
Some 3,636 calls were made from Leinster House to a premium rate 1513 number, leaving the taxpayer to foot the bill - Deputy Healy-Rae won the show.
It was revealed this week that the Oireachtas had written to Micheal Healy-Rae's father, then deputy Jackie Healy-Rae, seeking an explanation for the calls. However, none was forthcoming and Mr Healy-Rae Snr has declined to comment on the furore.
Mr Healy-Rae again claimed he had nothing to do with the calls, but said he was paying the bill to end the controversy.
“I know this will not stop and it will take the media concentration away from what they should be concentrating on and that is the enormous problems that we have in this country,” he said.
Mr Healy-Rae said his father could not explain how it happened.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny had earlier called for the money to be repaid.
