The Front Pages
Someone give Ivor Callely a reality TV show, because as expected, the embattled senator is all over the headlines again this morning, after Taoiseach Brian Cowen piled further pressure ahead of today’s Seanad committee meeting to consider Callely’s future. The Irish Times headline this is morning is ‘Taoiseach says Callely should consider his position’ after Mr Cowen told the Times from Tullamore yesterday that he cannot force the senator to resign, but that ‘it is a matter for him to consider now’.
Mr Cowen also stated that he has made his position clear as party leader and that he is glad to see the Seanad ‘moving quickly’ on Callely’s expenses issue. In a statement released Saturday, the troubled senator acknowledged ‘very serious allegations’ had been made regarding Callely’s mobile phone expenses, The Seanad committee will meet today at 2pm.
Similar to the Times headline, today’s Irish Independent front page reads ‘Taoiseach ramps up pressure on Callely’, as the broadsheet acknowledges that the senator faces a ‘public grilling’ on his alleged scandal. Taking a forward-looking approach to the issue, the Independent speculates on the potential rough days ahead for Callely, with sources claiming the senator may be called in before the end of the week by the Seanad committee itself to explain his actions.
The Independent also claimed that five members of the 90-plus Fianna Fail national executive are to also meet today this investigate the issue, which may eventually result in Callely being expelled from the party altogether.
