Minister defends employing four family members

A JUNIOR Government Minister has defended employing four members of his family whose wages were paid by the State.

Michael Finneran, a Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim, has listed his wife, his brother, his son and his daughter as his staff members since becoming Minister for Housing in May.

This was revealed in the Dáil yesterday by Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, who questioned if this situation was appropriate.