Quinlivan attacks O’ Dea over staffing costs

Limerick Sinn Féin representative Maurice Quinlivan has harshly criticised Limerick FF TD and Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea of running up “outrageous staffing costs” after learning that O’Dea has six civil servants working on constituency matters.

It comes as O'Dea confirmed he has the six civil servants working a total cost to the taxpayer of between €165,000 - €255,000 a year.

“It's good to know that our Cabinet Minister is doing his bit to fight the recession. By employing six civil servants to engage in constituency work on his behalf Willie O'Dea is demonstrating in his own inimitable fashion that the two tier society his government has built over the last 12 years is still alive and well.

At a time when many contracted public servants working in vital areas of our Health Service have lost their jobs it's reassuring to know that “jobs for the boys” remains a core part of the Fianna Fáil message.

Never mind the Health Service or Education the real priority is to shore up the sliding Fianna Fáil vote by using taxpayers money to fund constituency work.”

Mr. Quinlivan has also claimed he was contacted by a Caherdavin resident who had “received an unsolicited offer of assistance with a planning application where no assistance was sought or thought necessary by the resident.”

The Sinn Féin General Election candidate for Limerick East said although O’Dea is entitled to engage in this, which he called “ambulance chasing” he said the taxpayer “should not have to fund it.”

NEW DETAILS
This situation has heated up very dramatically as its now being reported Maurice Quinlivan may sue Willie O’ Dea after he claimed Quinlivan part owned a Clancy Strand apartment where a brothel was uncovered by Gardai in recent raids.

Limerick Leader has that side of the story.