A BITTER row erupted yesterday between a Minister of State who has employed four members of his family and an Opposition TD who highlighted the issue in the Dáil but mistakenly described the family members as being employed as special advisers.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Michael Finneran employs his wife Elizabeth as his constituency secretary and his brother Brendan as one of his drivers. Two of his children have filled in as his driver in recent months while his brother was unable to work after an accident.
The issue was raised in the Dáil yesterday by Fine Gael environment spokesman Fergus O'Dowd, who asked Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan if it was appropriate for a Minister of State to appoint four family members as special advisers.
The Dáil order paper on Tuesday noted a document laid before the House in respect of "Special Advisers to the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Michael Finneran, TD, in accordance with the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2008."
Mr Finneran later accused Mr O'Dowd of engaging in "a disgraceful attack". He accused the Fine Gael TD of engaging in "gutter politics" and trying to smear him and his family.
He said that his wife Elizabeth was employed as his constituency secretary but added that she had acted as his unpaid personal secretary for nearly 20 years before being put on the State payroll.
Mr Finneran added that when he was appointed as a Minister of State he had appointed his brother Brendan as one of his two ministerial drivers. However, his brother had broken his ankle in an accident in July and since then his daughter and son had filled in.
"Two members of my family were so gracious as to help me out. There is nothing wrong with that," said Mr Finneran.
Last night Mr O'Dowd insisted that it was appropriate to raise the issue of family members being employed by Ministers and Ministers of State. "I have no agenda against Mr Finneran. Two weeks ago I raised with John Gormley the appropriateness of his appointment of the former general secretary of the Green Party and two Green councillors as advisers. I think it was legitimate for me to ask about the appointment of close relatives by Mr Finneran. There was nothing vindictive about it," said Mr O'Dowd.