Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is the matter of the credit card expenses. The Chairman, Deputy McGuinness, raised the matter at the last meeting before Christmas, and the witness indicated he did not recall having a credit card. It had been a long meeting but he subsequently wrote to us and stated that he had a credit card but had forgotten about it at the meeting. He indicated that he was happy to write to us with regard to the content of the statements. We received a number of statements and the witness had a card which he signed off every month. The notes are kept in quite some detail. Could we write to him to request information about certain issues? Going through the detail of the credit card statements, there are a lot of travel and hotel expenses, although there are also food expenses as well as entertainment. Significant amounts are spent in places like Lillie's Bordello and Town Bar & Grill for Christmas parties. There is approximately €3,600 in total in 2005. In fairness, in September 2008 there is only €331 spent. There is also a record of a second credit card from Mr. David Higgins which also has entertainment in it. For example, drinks were purchased in Ely in 2007 amounting to €1,400, and something for staff only in Ely again amounting to €2,500 in October 2006. A staff dinner in Odessa amounts either to €370 or €3,700 - I cannot tell which - and this is one of many expenses. I was surprised by that because Mr. Maloney was so adamant that he could not remember having a credit card. Clearly there have been a few held within the authority. Could we afford him the opportunity to write to us about that?