Frosty reception for Wallace

Mick Wallace is being given a frosty reception by his former colleagues in the Dáil Technical group.

The Wexford TD tried to rejoin the alliance of Independent TDs he was asked to leave amid controversy over his tax cheating.

Mr Wallace owes €2.1m to the Revenue Commissioners, after making a false declaration in respect of his M&J Wallace construction company.

But the Wexford TD does not need permission from the others to rejoin the group, which gives him more Dáil speaking rights.

Nonetheless, members of the United Left Alliance meeting in Dublin this morning were clear on their feelings about the disgraced deputy.

Joe Higgins says he's asked Mick Wallace not to re-join: "The United Left Alliance has no political connection with Deputy Wallace and will have no connection going into the future.

"I supported a move yesterday that Deputy Wallace not be asked to re-join the technical group."