MEP Daly defends her decision to hire Wallace son as aide
DUBLIN MEP Clare Daly has defended her decision to hire the son of Mick Wallace as her taxpayer-funded EU parliamentary assistant in Brussels.
The ex-Fingal TD said her staff are ‘all highly qualified for the job’ and in the case of Fionn Wallace she said she is ‘lucky to get him’.
Speaking yesterday to European Parliament Radio, Ms Daly said: ‘The expenses system in the European Parliament is absolutely crazy, there is no secret there. It has been highlighted many times and it of course applies to all MEPs.
‘We will be fully transparent in terms of how I account for my use of expenses out here and, in terms of the staff I’ve employed, I am very happy to stand over the credentials of all of them,’ Ms Daly said.
She added that Fionn Wallace was ‘a first-class-honours, first-in-his-class graduate with a great research track record’.
Fionn Wallace graduated from UCD with a first-class masters degree in philosophy in 2014. Ms Daly said she considered herself fortunate to have the staff she has and that the conditions for the job were set by others.
According to the European Parliament website, ‘MEPs can choose their own staff within a budget set by Parliament.
‘In 2019, the maximum monthly amount available for all the costs involved in recruiting personal assistants is €24,943 per MEP. None of these funds are paid to the MEP themselves.’
MEPs can choose two types of assistants, accredited ones based in Brussels, of which an MEP can recruit a maximum of three, or local assistants based in the member state. Since 2009, MEPs may no longer employ close relatives for these positions.
Ms Daly has the maximum total of three accredited assistants, including Mr Wallace. The newly-elected MEP also tried to turn the story around on the journalists who reported it, claiming that ‘silly season is here at last’.
Writing on her Facebook page yesterday, Ms Daly said: ‘I find it disappointing that “journalists” who have taken no interest in the political issues raised by us in the European Parliament this week have put together a sensational non-story about one of my staff members.
‘It is well-known that the expenses associated with the European Parliament are outlandish and excessive and should be reformed. All 751 MEPs have the same allowances. I will be fully transparent in my use of same.’
MEPs are paid, pre-tax, €8,757.70 a month. After EU tax and insurance, this comes down to €6,824.85.
MEPs are also entitled to allowances and expenses to cover travel and accommodation costs, including a flat rate of €320 to cover accommodation for each working day.
Ms Daly and Mick Wallace are close political allies and members of Independents 4 Change. On Tuesday, both MEPs gave their maiden speeches in the EU parliament, with Ms Daly addressing issues relating to Venezuela while Mr Wallace, Ireland South’s MEP, criticised the EU for being silent on US foreign policy on Iran.