Ming admits to hypocrisy over stance on Wallace affair

Roscommon TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, a colleague of under-fire deputy Mick Wallace in the Dáil Technical Group, has admitted being "hypocritical" over the Wexford TD's tax affairs.

Deputy Wallace will address the house this evening on his underpayment of VAT and his €2.1m settlement with the Revenue Commissioners.

Deputy Flanagan today admitted that his stance on the revelations may well have been different if it involved a TD from one of the main political parties.

"People like me can be accused of being a hypocrite over that," he said.

"I suppose I am being a bit hypocritical over it, there's no point denying it.

"It is that bit more difficult when you do know the person and… I feel I know him quite well and I get on very well with him.

"But at the end of the day he's done wrong," Deputy Flanagan added.

"He's got to attempt to pay this back because people are suffering in this country and I hope he does that."