OPPOSITION TDs have criticised as “cronyism” the appointment of a Fine Gael backbencher’s wife as his parliamentary assistant but a spokeswoman for the main Government party said “all criteria for this appointment have been met”.
Newly elected Dublin North TD Alan Farrell has recruited his wife, Emma Doyle, as his parliamentary assistant. Salary rates for the job vary between about €40,000 and €50,000.
Ms Doyle, a barrister, worked on Mr Farrell’s general election campaign and previously on his campaign for the local elections.
Earlier this month, she was unsuccessful in her attempt to replace her husband on Fingal County Council.
The Dáil appointment was strongly criticised by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Finian McGrath TD, chairman of the Independent technical group.
A Fine Gael spokeswoman said: “All staff appointments are made at the discretion of TDs and Senators and all criteria for this appointment have been met.”
She declined to comment on criticism that the appointment might be viewed as cronyism. Mr Farrell said he had nothing to add to the statement from the Fine Gael spokeswoman.
Labour said the appointment of family members in general was a practice to be avoided although there might be some people who had employed family over the years.
A spokesman said the party had also strongly advised members that family should not be co-opted on to council seats to succeed councillors elected to the Dáil.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said: “The only criterion for the hiring of staff should be the candidate’s ability to do the job.”
The Sinn Féin TD added that having majored on political reform and on honesty and openness in the general election, voters had a right to believe that Fine Gael would bring an end to cronyism in Irish politics.
He said Mr Farrell’s hiring of his wife as his parliamentary assistant, after failing to have her co-opted to his council seat, “smacks of exactly the type of cronyism” against which Fine Gael had campaigned.
“This coupled with the Moriarty report is highly embarrassing for Fine Gael but also begs questions of their Labour Party colleagues in Government who also majored on political reform in the election,” Mr Ó Snodaigh said.
Mr McGrath said the appointment was an example of “cronyism” and added: “There are over 450,000 unemployed in this State at the moment and I think TDs and Ministers should lead by example. I would urge the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to show more decisive leadership on this issue.”
On the attempt to have his wife replace him as a councillor, Mr Farrell said: “Emma is a highly-qualified and capable person who has worked on three election campaigns with me, twice as campaign manager.”
The Fine Gael TD added that his wife knew the constituency very well. “She was defeated by Councillor Anthony Lavin who will make a very fine addition to the Fine Gael team in Fingal.”
In the general election, Mr Farrell was elected on the seventh count in the four-seat constituency of Dublin North as Dr James Reilly’s running mate.