A NEW Fine Gael TD who promised to take only half his salary has hired two family members as his staff and got another elected to his vacant council seat.

The Irish Independent has learned that Brendan Griffin (above) has hired his wife Roisin as his secretarial assistant, his cousin Tommy Griffin as his parliamentary assistant and helped another cousin, Matt Griffin, get his old council seat.

Mr Griffin (29) won a seat in Kerry South, ousting the sitting Fine Gael TD Tom Sheahan. He made the fact that he would give up €46,000 of a TD’s €90,000 salary a central plank of his election campaign.

TD Who Took Cut In Salary Gives Out Plum Jobs To Family Members (Fiach Kelly, irish Independent)

No, not the Independent North Tipp douchebag.

He’s as crooked as Chompsky’s enfeebled hind leg.

No. The little-known American actor Michael Lowry (above).

He’s just a jobbing professional. Although he did appear in an episode of Law and Order entitled ‘The Taxman Cometh’.

He plays a character called ‘Price’.

The Local.de

Thanks Ender

via

Charles And Camilla’s Honour Guard Collapses In Dead Faint As They Arrive In Spain (Mail)

Stephen McNamara. Michael O’Leary’s co-pilot.

Ryanair Press Release

Ryanair To Charge €2 Levy On Passengers (RTE)

David Quinn, take note.

Mother Jones

The Taoiseach has said he cannot give an exact date as to when the cut in the minimum wage will be reversed.

In the Dáil today, Enda Kenny said that legislation may be required to bring in the change and said the move would need approval under the European Union/International Monetary Fund deal.

The rate was cut by €1 to €7.65 per hour by the last Government.

Mr Kenny said ‘obviously this is an important issue for those who are locked into it’.

No Date For Minimum Wage Cut Reversal (RTE)