LAST UPDATE | 13 Jan 2023

FINE GAEL TD Neale Richmond has been appointed as a junior minister, following the resignation of Damien English yesterday.

The new Fine Gael junior minister was appointed following an incorporeal Cabinet meeting this morning.

The Dublin Rathdown TD takes up the role at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, and at the Department of Social Protection.

In a statement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he was happy to appoint Richmond to the role.

“Neale is an exceptionally capable politician and parliamentarian who has been to the forefront of issues arising from Brexit, including its impact on Irish business and trade. He is a first time TD but has also served a full term in the Seanad. 

“I have asked Neale to work closely with Ministers Simon Coveney and Heather Humphreys on maintaining Ireland’s strong employment base in the face of challenging global conditions, and to aim for ongoing growth in all of Ireland’s main employment sectors.”

Varadkar added that Richmond will be responsible for reforms around sick pay as well as progress towards a national living wage.

Yesterday, English resigned as a junior minister following revelations from The Ditch that he had not declared the ownership of a property when he sought planning permission for a house 14 years ago.

In a statement yesterday, English said that he had informed the Taoiseach of his decision to resign and that he failed to include details of his home on the planning application.

He said: “Yesterday in an online article, questions were raised about my planning application from 14 years ago.

“I reviewed this application, made in 2008, and it is clear to me that I failed to inform Meath County Council about ownership of my house in Castlemartin.

“This was wrong, not up to the standard required and I apologise for doing so.”

‘Need for reform’

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has said the resignation of English underlines the need for reform of ethics in public office.

He said the incident that led to English’s resignation damages public trust and confidence in politicians and politics.

Speaking in Cork, McGrath said the Government will bring forward legislation this year to give more powers to the ethics watchdog, the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).

The Fianna Fáil minister said the legislation would “overhaul” ethics in public life, adding that it has been 20 years since legislation was first brought in.

Asked whether English should face further investigations by Meath County Council, Mr McGrath said: “It’s a matter for the respective authorities now as to whether they wish to carry out investigations and take the matter further, and they will do their business independently.

“For the Government and the Oireachtas, I think it does underline the need for reform in the area of ethics and public office.

“During my time as Minister for Public Expenditure we did complete a comprehensive review of Ireland’s statutory framework for ethics in public life. I secured approval of Government last month for bringing forward legislation to overhaul this area. Because it is now 20 years since legislation was brought in.”