Expenses scandal brings down Irish pol

DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- John O'Donoghue, under fire for his expense claims, has announced he will step down next week as chairman of the lower house of the Irish Parliament.

O'Donoghue released a one-line statement late Tuesday night, The Irish Independent reported. He said he would resign Tuesday afternoon.

As minister for arts, sports and culture, O'Donoghue racked up 126,000 euros ($185,000) in expenses in two years. More than one-quarter of that money was spent on a six-day jaunt in May 2006 that involved flying from Ireland to the Cannes Film Festival in southern France with his wife, from Cannes back to Kerry, from Kerry to Wales, back to Cannes and then to London before his return to Dublin.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen told the Dail, or parliament, Wednesday that deciding on a new chairman is up to the government, The Irish Times reported. Opposition leaders have called on Cowen to discuss the decision with them, arguing members of the Dail must have confidence in the new chairman.

The current government is headed by Fiana Fail in coalition with the Greens and some independent members of parliament.