Senator Ivor Callely has resigned the Fianna Fail party whip due to the controversy caused by his $95,700 overnight and travel expenses over a two-year period.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, Senator Callely said he was sorry for how this controversy has impacted the members of parliament and politics.

“I deeply regret that the statement I made in Seanad Éireann (Senate House of Ireland) on Wednesday was not sufficient and with hindsight I would have handled that opportunity differently. I did not furnish enough information and I apologize for that,” said Callely.

On Wednesday he said that his expense claims had been initiated while he was still living in West County Cork. However his permanent residence, where his wife and children live, is in Clontarf in the north of Dublin city.

Senator Larry Butler has also resigned from Fianna Fail as his expenses are under scrutiny and now a third Senator Senator Ann Ormonde is being asked to explain so abnormalities on her expenses.

Senator Bulter had been claiming expenses from Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny though he held residence in Foxrock, Dublin.

Senator Callely told the Prime Minister Brian Cowen that he was resigning but also encouraged further investigations into the expense accounts within government. He said that he was confident his name would be cleared.