• RTÉ.ie
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Life & Style
  • RTÉ Player
  • Television
  • Radio
  • Orchestras
  • More
  • RTÉ Live
  • RTÉ News Now
  • RTÉ Radio Player
  • RTÉ Aertel
  • RTÉ Apps
  • Weather
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Motors
  • Travel
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • RTÉ Mobile
  • Performing Groups
  • Lotto
  • Jobs
  • About
  • Shop
  • RTÉjr
  • TRTÉ
  • RTÉ Archives
  • Feedback
  • RTÉ Digital Blog
    • Home
    • Ireland
    • World
    • Business
    • Watch & Listen
    • Special Reports
    • Galleries
    • Money
    • Programmes
    TV Programmes
    • One News
    • Six One News
    • Nine News
    • News On Two
    • Oireachtas Report
    • Prime Time
    • The Frontline
    • Nuacht
    • One to One
    • The Week In Politics
    • European Parliament Report
    • news2day
    Radio Programmes
    • Morning Ireland
    • News At One
    • Drivetime
    • This Week
    • World Report
    • Late Debate

    O'Donoghue confirms he will stand down

    Updated: 09:36, Wednesday, 07 October 2009
    Tweet
    • Article
    John O'Donoghue - Faced pressure over expenses
    John O'Donoghue - Faced pressure over expenses

    Related Stories

    • O'Donoghue spent €13,000 on car hire
    • Meeting sought over O'Donoghue expenses
    • O'Donoghue to detail proposals over expenses

    Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue is to resign next week.

    Mr O'Donoghue announced his decision this evening, after a day of pressure on him over his expense claims as Ceann Comhairle.

    The controversy over his expenses has been dragging on for months.

    Newspaper revelations about Mr O'Donoghue's travel arrangements while he was Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism damaged him.

    However, the release on Friday of his expense claims as Ceann Comhairle sealed his fate.

    The pressure built over the weekend, but it was taken to a whole new level in the Dáil chamber today, when Labour leader Eamon Gilmore dramatically told Mr O'Donoghue to his face that his position was untenable.

    Mr Gilmore said the Ceann Comhairle would have to resign or be sacked.

    Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny quickly backed the call and negotiations ensued with the party whips.

    At 10.30pm, Mr O'Donoghue issued a statement saying he would resign next week, when he will make a statement to the Dáil.

    The Labour Party welcomed the Ceann Comairle's statement, but Fine Gael said the delay in his resignation would only do further damage to the office of the Ceann Comahirle.

    Enda Kenny said he was still of the view that an immediate resignation is preferable.

    Tweet
    • Most Popular
    • Top Stories
    • 1 London attack likely terror related - Cameron
    • 2 Donegal man charged over 1982 IRA bombing
    • 3 Progress reported in EU crackdown on tax fraud
    • 4 IDA chief denies Ireland a 'tax haven'
    • 5 Man with links to Boston suspect shot dead
    • 6 Le Pen says Notre-Dame suicide a 'political act'
    • 7 Apple confirms 2% tax rate for Irish subsidiaries
    • 1 London attack likely terror related - Cameron
    • 2 Progress reported in EU crackdown on tax fraud
    • 3 Donegal man charged over 1982 IRA bombing
    • 4 Two jailed for life over Kerry bog murder
    • 5 INTO leadership to recommend LRC proposals
    • 6 Man with links to Boston suspect shot dead
    • 7 Accidental death verdicts in Tit Bonhomme inquest
    • 8 Order prohibiting naming of ex-priest lifted

    Search RTÉ News

      Search

      Highlights  

      • Prime Time

        Alan Shatter controversy rumbles on, US and UK politicians label Ireland a tax haven and main streets under threat as businesses struggle

      • Gallery: Oklahoma Tornadoes

        View images from Moore and Shawnee city which were badly hit as destructive storms moved across Oklahoma

      • Apple Tax

        Tony Connelly, Europe Editor, speaks to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore about Ireland's tax system

       

      Live Player

      • Next
      • 04:00 - 04:25

        Nationwide

      • 08:05 - 08:15

        news2day

      • Later
      • 09:00 - 10:25

        Morning Edition

      • 13:00 - 13:25

        RTÉ News: One O'Clock and Weather

      View complete live schedule »

      Also In The News

      • Street Rules

        Dublin City Council is to impose rules for buskers and street performers after a voluntary code was ignored

       

      In Focus  

      • Ash dieback warnings

        The Department of Agriculture and Teagasc have begun a series of meetings to warn landowners of the signs of ash dieback

      • Bad Apple?

        Adam Maguire analyses the scrutiny of Apple's international tax strategy

      • Blood Pressure Alert

        High blood pressure is a silent risk factor for stroke and heart attack and should not go unchecked

       

      Documentary on One  

      • Songs My Mother Taught Me

        A 'documentary novel' by Chris Brookes about war brides - women who married allied servicemen during World War II

      • Over There - Green Cab

        A London taxi tour around the stories of the Irish in London, including the more recently-arrived

      • Dudley Kane: Darach Ó Cathain is here in Leeds

        In 1963, Sean nós singer Darach Ó Cathain emigrated to Leeds with his family. This radio documentary follows their journey

       
      • Prime Time

        Prime Time

        In-depth analysis of current issues and topical reports with Miriam O'Callaghan, Pat Kenny and Claire Byrne. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays on RTÉ One

      • RTÉ News on Twitter

        RTÉ News on Twitter

        Get the latest news updates on Twitter by following @rtenews

      • Euro Blog

        Euro Blog

        Tony Connelly and Paul Cunningham analyse the politics of Brussels and issues from across Europe

      • US Blog

        US Blog

        The latest stories from America from Washington Correspondent Richard Downes

      Explore RTÉ

    • News
    • Sport
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Radio
    • Television
    • RTÉ Player
    • RTÉ Radio Player
    • Weather
    • Life & Style
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Homes
    • Motors
    • Travel
    • TRTÉ
    • RTÉjr
    • Orchestras
    • RTÉ Archives
    • RTÉ Guide
    • Shop
    • m.rte.ie
    • RTÉ Aertel
    • Classifieds
    • Dating
    • Jobs
    • Lotto
    • RTÉ Apps
    • RTÉ Live
    • RTÉ YouTube
    • Email alerts
    • RTÉ Digital Blog
    • RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
      Images courtesy of Inpho.ie and Getty Images

      RTÉ

      RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Broadcaster.

      Information
      Feedback
      Complaints

    • About RTÉ
    • Contact
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Data Protection Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Licence Fee
    • Careers
    • Annual Report
    • Advertise with RTÉ
    • RTÉ NL
    • SAORVIEW
    • © RTÉ 2012-RTÉ Commercial Enterprises Ltd, Registration No: 155076, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland.

       
      • Visit our commercial partners
      • myhome.ie
      • buyandsell.ie
      • anotherfriend.ie
      • irishjobs.ie
      • carzone.ie