On Monday 19th July Martin O’Sullivan a member of the People Before Profit Alliance who ran for election in the Artane Whitehall ward in the 2009 local elections issued an Ultimatum to Senator Rónán Mullen regarding advice that the Senator received about claiming expenses from Galway (where he is originally from ) instead of Dublin where he is based. If Rónán Mullen does not give the name of the elected representative who offered him this advice to the Seanad Committee on Members Interests by Friday 30th July a complaint against Rónán Mullen will b lodged with the Seanad Committee on Members Interests.

Speaking today Martin O’Sullivan a member of the People Before Profit Alliance who ran for election in the Artane Whitehall ward in the 2009 local elections, said

“There can be no Freedom of Conscience when it comes to the abuse of the expense system. It is not enough that TD’s and Senators do not abuse the system they must actively expose those who do. Senator Rónán Mullen has said that he will “Take to the Grave” the name of the elected representative who advised him to claim his expenses from Galway rather than Dublin. In a time of cutbacks when the poor are asked to pay for the mistakes of the wealthy, elected representatives who give advice like this should not be protected by anyone.”

He went on to say, “Rónán Mullen has a lot to say about what he sees as issues of morality such as Civil Partnership, however on other moral issues such as the abuse of public money by elected representatives he does not feel strongly enough to name those who advocate it. The wall of secrecy, which protects wrongdoing, must be dismantled if Ireland is to learn from its past. Senator Rónán Mullen must give the name of the elected representative to the Seanad Committee on Members Interests by Friday 30th July or a complaint will be lodged by me against him.”

Contact Martin O’Sullivan 0878289243
martin.osullivan@peoplebeforeprofit.ie

============ Email Sent to Senator Rónán Mullen ============
Senator Rónán Mullen
Seanad Éireann,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

Dear Senator Mullen

On RTE’s Drivetime program of Thursday 3rd June 2010 you claimed that an “elected representative” advised you that you should claim that you were living in Galway for the purposes of claiming expenses. According to your account this person stated that “if you were in the Seanad long enough you could get a house out of it”. You have stated that you will “take to the grave” the name of this person.

As a citizen of this state and a person who ran for election to Dublin City Council I find this unacceptable. You clearly have knowledge of a person who advised you to carry out an unethical act and your silence is protecting this person. Your stated reason for this is that this person may not have been serious however it is not your place to make this determination.

For too long wrongdoing has been protected in Ireland by a wall of secrecy. If you do not give the name of this person to the Seanad Committee on Members Interests by Friday 30th July I will make a complaint against you. On Tuesday 18/07/2010 I will contact over 1000 members of both the local and national press, to advise them that I have sent you this letter.

Yours sincerely

__________________________________
Martin O’Sullivan