FORMER EMPLOYEE DEFENDS GALWAY EAST TD COLM KEAVENEY

Date Published: 24-Sep-2012

The former parliamentary assistant of Galway East TD Colm Keaveney has moved to clarify the circumstances of his departure from the role.

It follows revelations that Deputy Keaveney hired his wife Deirdre on a job share basis since July 2011 until she took the post up on a full time basis earlier this month.

Ballinasloe Town Cllr Johnny Walsh says he shared the position with Deirdre Keaveney for a 6 month period from February until the end of August.

He worked a 16 hour week from bases in Tuam and Ballinasloe for an annual salary of 16 thousand 380 euro.

Cllr Walsh says he and Deputy Keaveney reached a mutual and amicable agreement to end his term after the boundary commission changes were announced.

Deputy Keaveney has stressed that he has defied no party guidelines in hiring his wife.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Cllr Walsh says it made political sense to leave as he could no longer work from his Ballinasloe base.