The Green Party leader has asked for an Oireachtas committee investigation into the use of pre-paid Oireachtas envelopes used for "blatant electioneering" by election candidates.
Mr Trevor Sargent said he was determined to investigate the misuse of Oireachtas envelopes. He referred to the recent case where a Fianna Fáil councillor running for re-election in Gorey, Co Wexford, sent around 2,000 letters to households in the area purporting to be from the Taoiseach and asking for a number one preference in the June 11 thballot.
Mr Lorcan Allen, who was chairman of Wexford County Council at the time, yesterday said he took "full responsibility" for the letters and apologised to the Taoiseach and to staff at Fianna Fáil headquarters.
Mr Allen was elected on the ninth and final count in the local election. His Fianna Fáil running mate, Mr Pat Rath, was not successful in his bid for election.
Mr Sargent, who is a member of the Oireachtas Members' Interests Committee, said "a new low standard" had now been reached by Mr Allen.
He asked the chairman of the committee, Mr Noel Davern, to investigate what he called the "blatant breach" of the guidelines governing the use of pre-paid Oireachtas envelopes.
"Also, my office has received a number of complaints from around the country from members of the public incensed by the posting of 'Vote No. 1' leaflets in Oireachtas envelopes that are supposed to be used for work on behalf of a TD or a Senator," he said.