Fine Gael fails to back ‘job for wife’ TD

A TD who appointed his wife to a taxpayer-funded €38,000 job as his assistant after losing a ministerial post has been left isolated by senior Fine Gael figures.

After it emerged former small business minister John Perry made his wife, Marie, his parliamentary assistant, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said TDs should not give such posts to family members.

Mr Perry is no stranger to controversy: there were demands for his resignation in 2013 when the Sligo-North Leitrim TD and his wife became embroiled in a court action over a €2.47m debt.