Minister defends hiring Fine Gael election candidate

European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy has said he did nothing wrong in appointing a failed party election candidate as his ministerial driver — claiming being an ex-politician should not stop someone from gaining work.

The former Cork City lord mayor made the comments after it emerged he gave former local election candidate Joe O’Callaghan the €631-a week taxpayer-paid job, one of a number of recent controversies over back room appointments involving the Fine Gael TD.

Responding to media criticism of the move yesterday, Mr Murphy said “the fact that someone has been an elected public representative shouldn’t preclude them from anything and he has given a long public service”.