Sargent calls for dismissal of Fahey

Speaking during Leaders? Questions today, Deputy Sargent said: ?At a time when the ordinary person is struggling to afford one home, Frank Fahey, on a public representative?s salary, has amassed a multi-million euro property empire, spread across several countries. The revelation that Minister of State Fahey was involved in a business in Moscow is the latest in a series of undeclared interests and questionable decisions on his part. It is time for the Taoiseach to ask him to stand down.?

?Fahey?s ministerial record has raised questions about his suitability for office:

• Fahey?s Fishing Vessels Lost at Sea scheme, is under investigation by the Ombudsman, and has been described as ?seriously deficient and flawed?.
• Fahey?s decision to build marinas that did not comply with the National Development Plan has been publicly criticised by his former officials.
• Fahey was responsible for the compulsory purchase of land for the Corrib pipeline, and in one of his last acts in office, he granted approval for the foreshore licence that has caused so much concern for the people of Rossport.
• His misuse of departmental notepaper for party-political purposes was, in the Taoiseach?s own words ?totally inappropriate?.

Sargent continued: ?Fahey appears to have had been involved in a Moscow hair salon even though he claims not to have had an interest in it. He also failed to declare an apartment which he held in Florida in 2000.

Sargent said: ?Frank Fahey?s evidence to the Mahon Tribunal earlier this month was also worrying. After initially failing to disclose the transaction to the Mahon Tribunal, he admitted that he had a ?hazy recollection? of receiving a payment from Monarch Properties. He also maintained that he was not the Frank Fahey referred to in Frank Dunlop?s diary.?

?Media reports at the weekend suggested that he is avoiding tax on a large-scale in pursuing his property interests. What kind of message is this sending out about what this Government finds acceptable??

?Mr Fahey?s integrity and his suitability for a junior ministerial post must be seriously questioned. Fahey was dropped from Cabinet in 2002, but the Taoiseach did not have the strength of conviction to relieve him of all of his ministerial responsibilities, unfortunately. It is now time for the Taoiseach to dismiss Frank Fahey from his Junior Ministry.?