Committee to probe Wallace’s conduct

The conduct of tax-evading TD Mick Wallace is to be probed by a Dáil committee with powers to refer the matter to the DPP.

Dáil ceann comhairle Seán Barrett insisted the “grave issues” raised by Mr Wallace’s behaviour had serious implications for democracy and needed to be investigated.

The Dáil Committee on Members’ Interests is to meet next week after taking legal advice as to whether it can investigate Mr Wallace, as the illegal act he has admitted to occurred before he became a TD.

Despite the Dáil sitting next week, Mr Wallace — who takes a salary of €92,000 as a deputy — is believed to be following the Irish team at Euro 2012 in Poland.

Mr Wallace set off a political firestorm when he revealed he knowingly lied to Revenue by providing under-valued Vat returns for a two-year period as managing director of his construction company.

Mr Wallace’s company reached a €2.1m settlement with the Revenue over the matter, but he has made it clear it is “very unlikely” the money will be paid.

Mr Wallace claimed his actions were intended to “save” his now insolvent company. However, it has emerged he doubled the money paid by the firm to himself and his son from €148,141 to €290,000 in the year ending Aug 2008.

The committee requested by Dáil authorities to investigate Mr Wallace is chaired by the Wexford TD’s colleague in the technical group of Independent TDs, Thomas Pringle.

Among its five members is Fine Gael’s Olivia Mitchell who was found by the Mahon Tribunal to have received an “inappropriate” payment of £500 while a councillor.

Labour deputy Eamonn Maloney demanded that Mr Wallace resign. “No tax evader should have a place in the parliament, no tax evader should be a law maker and I think it’s a matter of honour,” said Mr Maloney.

“I don’t really care which party, or none, that these people come from, they should resign. If you’re a tax evader, you shouldn’t be in the Dáil.”

However, fellow Independents refused to call for Mr Wallace to quit the Dáil.

Catherine Murphy, whip of the technical group, said Mr Wallace was democratically elected, but she would not be against censure measures if a Dáil committee recommended them.

United Left Alliance TD Clare Daly insisted Mr Wallace was fit for office, despite acting illegally.

“It was a very unfortunate episode,” she said. £He made a wrong decision and went and brought that in an upfront manner to the tax authorities. It’s an entirely different matter to using your Dáil position for influence and personal gain.”

Fellow ULA TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Mr Wallace’s actions had been “totally wrong” and the deputy should pay the money to Revenue.

Mr Boyd Barrett also said recall measures should be introduced so that constituents could have special elections to decide if deputies should remain in the Dáil between general elections.