Wallace scandal - Intolerable position

Calls have continued to grow over the weekend for the resignation of Mick Wallace from the Dáil in the wake of the disclosure of his €2.1m settlement with the Revenue Commissioners.

These calls have been coming from both sides of the chamber.

It would seem, however, that there may be no way in which he could be compelled to vacate his Dáil seat at present. Mr Wallace can only be forced out if convicted of a crime and sentenced to a certain term in jail, or if he were declared bankrupt.

Mr Wallace admitted that he filed a dishonest tax return, but it would seem that he cannot be prosecuted, because he has reached a settlement with the Revenue Commissions to have his company pay €2.1m, even though he knows the company is unlikely to be able to pay that money. He cannot be put into bankruptcy over this matter because he was representing a limited company.

Our system is clearly broken. People are being invited to conclude that a member of the Oireachtas has a licence to evade tax. This is an intolerable position in any self-respecting Republic.