Tóibín Calls on Dara Murphy to Return Expenses Claimed Under False Pretences
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has called on former Fine Gael TD, and one-time Minister for European Affairs, Dara Murphy to return the expenses that he claimed as a TD while he was double jobbing
Deputy Tóibín stated:
"Dara Murphy stood for election in 2016 on the understanding that he would provide full representation for the people of Cork North Central. This was clearly not done. Instead his priority was the electoral success of Fine Gael's mother organisation, the European People's Party, as he took on the role of EPP's Director of Elections. He breached the trust put in him by citizens.
"Dara Murphy's record is on the floor. His priority since 2017 has been Brussels, not the people of Cork or Ireland. Leo Varadkar is on record as describing Murphy's party work in Brussels as his 'main job'.
"It is obvious to everyone that Dara Murphy was milking the system. That fact that he was doing it with permission and sanction from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar shows that the gravy train culture goes to the very top in Fine Gael. Dara Murphy is now employed as a 'Cabinet Expert' for European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, a member of Fine Gael's Bulgarian sister party.
"If Dara Murphy is not obliged to pay back his expenses, if there is only a wringing of hands and verbal condemnation there is no real accountability and the establishment's gravy train will continue full steam ahead."
