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THE CEANN COMHAIRLE of the Dáil, Seán Barrett, has asked the Dáil’s committee on members’ interests to meet and consider conducting an investigation into Mick Wallace’s tax affairs and their impact on the reputation of the Dáil.
In a letter published by the Houses of the Oireachtas this afternoon, Barrett asked independent TD Thomas Pringle – who chairs the committee on members’ interests – to “examine the issues raised” by Wallace’s admission that his company had deliberately under-declared its VAT.
“In view of the grave issues raised [...] and the implications this has for democracy and the standing of the Dáil and the Members, I would request that your committee would examine the issues raised with a view to conducting an appropriate investigation as you may see fit,” he said.
Barrett said his request came because the procedural committee he chairs himself – the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges – “would appear to have no function in the matter”.
By contrast, the Ceann Comhairle wrote, the Ethics in Public Office legislation appeared to give a role to the Select Committee on Members’ Interests of which Pringle was elected chairman last year.
Earlier this morning, however, Pringle said it was unlikely that his committee would be in a position to investigate Wallace’s affairs, which came to light yesterday when he revealed details of a €2.1 million settlement with Revenue.
Pringle had told Newstalk’s Breakfast programme that Wallace, in his capacity as the secretary of M. & J. Wallace Ltd, had underdeclared his VAT by €1.4 million before becoming a TD in February 2011.
Because of this – and because the settlement was made with Wallace’s company, rather than Wallace himself as a private individual – he said it was unlikely that Wallace’s actions would fall under the remit of his committee.
The committee on members’ interests has the power to recommend the suspension of a member if it believes them to have acted inappropriately in the course of their duties, though it does not have the power to eject members from the Dáil entirely.
A similar Seanad committee recommended a 20-day suspension in the case of Ivor Callely in July 2010, though that suspension was later overturned in the High Court and is currently awaiting a ruling in the Supreme Court.
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Jesus Christ conduct an inquiry into his affairs… Mr Wallace deliberately withheld a tax payment of over 1.4 million euro from revenue after making a false deceleration on a state document which clearly states that all information must be true and accurate, he said he done it to save jobs in his company. But at the same time he quite gladly paid himself and his son over half a million as company directors. The company owes the state 2.1 million quid he says it will never be paid. TDs and other officials haven’t the balls to demand his resignation. Now he’s swanned off to the Poland to watch football when he should be at work in Leinster house. Will he be docked pay for his absence? Will he flip!!! Joke of a country but if i don’t pay my 160 tv licence I go to jail.
There really is a two-tier legal system in this country.
This is really a no brainier. If as is claimed he didn’t pay PRSI payments or tax And pension payments for his employees then that is their money that he has embezzled. The only enquiry required is by the Gardai hopefully followed by charges but I doubt it will happen. To many other TD’s worried about a domino effect.
See ya Mick! ;)
Yeah see ya at the Euros in Poland… Funnily enough his company’s are screwed he’s owe the state millions but has enough money to head off from work for a week of two… Great job… Great country…!!!
CC is ordering an investigation into wallace and rightly so ,so now i expect him to order a real investigation into our banking collapse if the cc or this goverment has any credibility left
What’s wrong with the Garda and tax inspectors doing the job properly?
Time for charges to be brought.
Exactly! He’s put his hand up! Hell we won’t even have to pay for an expensive long drawn out trial!
I really should resign. If he’s the decent chap people says he is, He’ll know he hasn’t got the position to criticise anyone else now.
‘He should resign’ sorry. Damn autocorrect
Wait and see… Wallace will get into more trouble in six weeks that Albert Ahern has ever done in six years.
For the historic record. ‘Bertie’ technically according to Dail rules, should NOT have been sitting as a TD because his tax affairs was not in order for near ten years alone – but he got the Tax Revenue boys to come up with a novel unique tax certificate that said later that he was “in negotiation” – it just so happened that he was “in negotiation” for the remaining tenure of his term in office!
Wallace will get slapped down (and maybe rightly so) – meanwhile what’s Albert Ahern been held accountable for?
…We all know the answer to that!
Some animals are equal but some are more equal than others!
George Orwell.
Do we they say – not as they do!
One rule for us – another for them?
Who’s Albert Ahern? What film was he in?
”Casablancheque”
Should that not be “CASHablancheque”?
HaHa brilliant John!
@ rodrigo detriano
“Albert Ahern” (who the wise would have quickly cottoned on to) was a reference to Scrooge, a Dickens character – who Albert Finney played as Ebenezer Scrooge in a film in 1970.
.
Apologies if the analogy was too vague.
”Casablancheque” priceless, thanks for the best laugh in ages John Murphy.
Wallace was elected by people who knew he was up to his bolox in debt. he pulled a stroke with the taxman and hes caught now, so lets all bay for blood. he should never have been elected, thats the real scandal. he and others like him, lowry, flynn, flynn again, liam lawlor and on and on take advantage of the ignorant dopes known as citizens. nobody should whinge about Wallace, hes just another criminal amongst the pantheon. that said, even though I vote, I am wondering is there any point.
I do tend to agree with you. We have a history of electing politicians whom we know are engaged in dodgy practices. All the comments about Wallace being “a nice guy”, “a good politician”, “working hard for his constituency” were all said by other people about Michael Lowry for example and he’s regularly topped the poll in Tipperary North. The same went for Bertie and Charlie in their time. Ultimately we DO get the politicians we deserve because supporters of these politicians are willing to turn a blind eye to their activities.
Its interesting to watch the ULA/PBP/Other Technical Group people dance on the head of pin today and yesterday with regard to this situation when we know that if it had been a Government politician they would have shouting from the rooftops. And to be fair I’m sure that if this had been a Government politicians his/her colleagues would be doing the same dance around the issue.
It would be great if there was some procedure for a recall election in situations like this. I suppose the worry would be that it would be open to manipulation by parties for their own use. But perhaps some safeguards could be put into place (e.g. A vote would have to be passed in both houses and perhaps some form of Court judgement as well). At that point the electorate in the constituency could have their say on whether they want the person to remain or be replaced.
It all comes up from a local level ‘you scratch my back…’ philosophy – redneck farmers, property developers, county councillors etc. who’ll back their man as long as they’ll be looked after when the time comes. And the backward ‘ah he’s an oul rogue but sure wouldn’t you do the same if you got the chance’ ignorance that comes from the voters.
Sam, your vote is always important, remember we also have the power to vote them out. May take a bit longer but our vote is all we have. I do think Mick just played the game to get elected as the whole country was sick of the corruption and in all fairness to the electorate in Wexford he seemed to tick all the boxes of fairness ,anti corruption, and me fainers. Shame it was all a scam and shame on the silent members of the ULA. Power corrupts.
Does anyone know why this sort of action couldn’t be initiated against Michael Lowry in the aftermath of the Moriarty Tribunal? Instead all the Dáil did was ask him to resign which obviously he never was going to do.
I’m not sure if there is still work being done by the DPP in relation to that but it would be good to see some action on it. From what I understand the tribunal’s finding aren’t legal findings so I suppose they have to be translated in some way into a legal case. Or at least that’s my understanding of it.
That sounds about right; thanks Jim!
It think it is a disgrace that Mick Wallace is allowed into the dail dressed They way he is He should be asked to leave especially with the rest of the Dail dressed very well
If he wore a suit he might have got away with it, or for longer at least :) Seems to work that way for the likes of Ahern, Lowry, Fitzpatrick etc :)
They are well dressed at our expense.
Clare sitting beside Wallace she is chewing gum does not look good she is very untidy I thought they all had a dress code
This is a man who will never have to go into hiding… All he has to do is take off the pink shirt, cut and dye his hair and he will never be noticed on the street.
Wallace does seem to be a nice guy, I’ve always like him. But that is no excuse.
There are others who have done a lot worse, and it’s strange that the investigation starts with Wallace. Also no excuse.
We cannot have people in this situation in the Dail. He stole from the Irish taxpayer. His comments about trying to be “as honest as I could” are shameful and he is unfit to be a public representative.
“Who’s fit to be a public representative? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I tried to be as honest as I could.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0607/1224317444365.html
The fact he’s comitted fraud should mean that he’s personally liable for the revenue settlement. Does anyone know why he’s still allowed to shield himself using his director of plc status.
Now, I thought I explained this. That money was merely resting in my – aw forget it…
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