Will the Dail career of Mick Wallace be truncated?

[Baron von Biffo]

As his property empire goes under it's being reported that Wallace has "...given the four banks to which he owes money substantial personal guarantees and could become liable if the loans are not repaid in full". If the banks pursue those guarantees there must be the possibility that Wallace will face bankruptcy which would mean automatic loss of his Dail seat.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...297715734.html

[Ah Well]

As his property empire goes under it's being reported that Wallace has "...given the four banks to which he owes money substantial personal guarantees and could become liable if the loans are not repaid in full". If the banks pursue those guarantees there must be the possibility that Wallace will face bankruptcy which would mean automatic loss of his Dail seat.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...297715734.html

As the saying goes ... time will tell

[Baron von Biffo]

As the saying goes ... time will tell

Indeed.

When Beverley Flynn was facing the possibility of bankruptcy I think she initiated a challenge to the constitutionality of the provision that requires TDs to forfeit their seats. It may be that the wigs have spotted a loophole.

[C. Flower]

I just added a poll to this.

[Baron von Biffo]

I just added a poll to this.

You're destroying my boycott of online polls

I voted No because while we've seen that solvency isn't proof against corruption, bankruptcy would increase the risks to an unacceptable level.

For the record, that's a comment on the principle of the thing and not on the unquestioned probity of Deputy Wallace.

[DCon]

I just added a poll to this.

I assume the poll refers to financial bankruptcy.

There would be a horrible echo in the Dail if moral bankruptcy was involved

I also voted No Baron. We do agree on some things!

[Baron von Biffo]

I assume the poll refers to financial bankruptcy.

There would be a horrible echo in the Dail if moral bankruptcy was involved

I also voted No Baron. We do agree on some things!

There's no soul that can't be saved.

[antiestablishmentarian]

I voted yes because I think it should be allowed, subject to certain criteria. If the person in question is bankrupt because of a court order à la Beverley Flynn or there is some other inculpating factor, then they should be barred. Where this is because of circumstances outside their control and there is no suggestion of dodgy dealings etc as here, then it should be allowed subject to strict investigation and legal guidelines.

[culmore]

There is enough chancers there already,

[Apjp]

I think wallace is a good egg and was a rarety in developers-noty corrupting or crooked or lazy. I voted no. also it could be a homeowner that goes bankrupt sitting in the dail in a few years

[morticia]

I voted yes because I think it should be allowed, subject to certain criteria. If the person in question is bankrupt because of a court order à la Beverley Flynn or there is some other inculpating factor, then they should be barred. Where this is because of circumstances outside their control and there is no suggestion of dodgy dealings etc as here, then it should be allowed subject to strict investigation and legal guidelines.

Agreed. Besides, if we default, it will only be the odd git with an offshore a/c who WON'T be bankrupt. Time to move with the times.

I agree with apjp that Wallace is a good egg, imho.

[kerdasi amaq]

You'd think that putting him out of Dáil; would be a bad move by his creditors.

Can't he use his Dáil salary to help pay down his debts?

[Legacy]

I voted Yes on this but I would have preferred another option, i.e. 'with a revised Bankruptcy law' which would take into account the peculiar and extraordinary circumstances that many citizens in this country are going to find themselves in as a result of immoral Banking practices.

Mick Wallace, while not personally my cup of tea, is a good man with good politics behind him. He used his business connections and building sites to protest against the Iraq War when it wasn't popular to do so. From all accounts he built good, solid buildings and had decent conditions for his employees as well.

The Behan Sq apt block in Russel Street includes a creative writing centre called Fighting Words which is run by volunteers and helps students develop their writing skills. I don't know what will happen to it now that he is no longer the landlord.

http://www.fightingwords.ie/contact/contact.php

[Andrew49]

There are a few people in the Dail whose allegiance to the Republic is doubtful - or that their first allegiance is to another foreign state - namely the Vatican. Then there's Brian Lenihan and a few others in Fianna Fail ... why that party wasn't banned from standing is beyond me - they are the party that bankrupted Ireland after all. Don't get me started on this.

[eamo]

I voted "yes". The only criteria for being a member of the Dail should be to be elected. No I.Q. test, no blood test, no garda vetting, no gender quoating(is that a word??), no racial profiling, no educational requirement, no hygienic standard(God help us), no beauty standard and DEFIANTLY no bankruptcy bar. Why should we allow the courts decide who can be our T.D.