Latest news with #FINEGAEL
The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Fine Gael councillor didn't declare 50% stake in firm accused of charging nurses unlawful fees
FINE GAEL COUNCILLOR and former South Dublin Mayor Baby Pereppadan did not declare his 50% shareholding in a recruitment agency that has been accused of charging migrant nurses unlawful fees. In 2022, 2023, and 2024 Pereppadan failed to disclose his interest in Angel Care Consultancy Limited. The councillor has denied knowledge of nurses being charged additional fees and said that he was not involved in the daily operations of the company. For a period of time in 2022-2023 he was also a director, which he has also not declared. Councillor Pereppadan was appointed director in November 2022 and resigned in May of the following year. Pereppadan told The Journal earlier this month that he had been offered 'a 50% shareholding' in the company as a gesture of goodwill after assisting in some of the early administration aspects of the company in 2021. He has not responded to questions on why he did not declare his directorship and a 50% shareholding in the company. The Journal Investigates last week reported on the councillor's interest in the company and that he is a former director of the recruitment agency. The company has been accused of charging three migrant nurses thousands of euros in agency fees on top of their standard costs, as part of their recruitment to work in an Irish nursing home. One of these nurses claims she was directed to pay the equivalent of €3,000 directly into the bank account of Britto Pereppadan, Baby's son, who is also a Fine Gael councillor in Tallaght, and a hospital doctor. Britto Pereppadan does not have any shares in Angel Care and he is not formally associated with the company. Advertisement He has said that the payment of €3,000 was made to him for a personal debt by another co-founder of the company, businessman Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey. These kinds of agency fees are not allowed under Irish employment law, under rules that are designed to stop people from profiting directly from those seeking work. Fine Gael reserving judgement Since the article was published on Friday, People Before Profit and Sinn Féin TDs have called on Fine Gael to launch an investigation into the councillors, and a complaint has been made to the South Dublin County Council Ethics Registrar. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) clearly sets out in its code of conduct for councillors that they must furnish the Ethics Registrar of their council with an annual declaration of their interests, including financial, property, and business interests. Records show that Baby Pereppadan reported no company directorships or shareholdings in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Baby Pereppadan was a director in Angel Care from 22 November 2022 until 19 May 2023. When he resigned his daughter, a 22-year-old dentistry student, was appointed as director. Baby Pereppadan has said that his daughter's involvement was 'nominal' and 'administrative' and that she has not had any involvement in running the company. In response to a series of questions, Baby Pereppadan said that he did not know anything about agency fees being charged to the three nurses. 'I have no knowledge of the allegations regarding agency fees being charged to nurses, and I am shocked to learn of these claims, should they be true. I have had no involvement in the day-to-day activities of the company, nor was I made aware of any extra fees being levied,' Baby Pereppadan said in an initial response to The Journal Investigates . Related Reads Two FG councillors have 'questions to answer' over migrant nurse agency fees, say opposition TDs Fine Gael councillor co-owns company accused of charging migrant nurses unlawful 'agency fees' He also said that he was given a 50% ownership stake in the company as a gesture of goodwill from Valooran, the other co-founder. Fine Gael response Baby Pereppadan's business partner businessman Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey has claimed that nurses had full knowledge of the fees that they paid, and that the two sums of just over €3,000 and one sum of €3,600 that were charged to the three nurses were expenses related. Mr Valooran said that he would further engage with one nurse who had requested a refund of additional fees. The three nurses have told The Journal that these were lump sum agency fees that they were asked to pay at the outset of their recruitment, and that they themselves paid for expenses including accommodation in Dublin during their examination period and transport in cash; they have also provided documentation which appears to support their claims. Britto Pereppadan has claimed that his father's business partner, Babu Valooran Kochuvarkey, had owed him a sum of money, which he paid to him, and that he didn't know how it was obtained. Asked for a response to the revelations in the article last Friday, a spokesperson for Fine Gael said that Councillor Baby Pereppadan had himself made the party aware of the piece. Yesterday at a press conference Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris said that he is going to 'reserve judgement' on the matters covered in the article until he is provided with clarifications by the Pereppadans. Asked if he planned to take action on any of the revelations Harris said: 'I understand that the councillors are disputing some of that and are currently seeking legal advice, and my party headquarters has sought more information from them in relation to that and I await the outcome of that.' When pressed on whether Fine Gael would investigate further the Tánaiste said that the two councillors 'will provide my party headquarters with more information and I will wait until I have all the facts'. 'Once I have all the facts, I will make a judgement then,' Harris added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has ruled himself out of the race for the Áras
FINE GAEL MEP Sean Kelly has said he is 'reluctantly' ruling himself out of the race for the Áras, calling it 'the most difficult decision' he's had to make in his political life. The Ireland South MEP also said he would support another likely challenger, fellow Brussels politician Mairead McGuinness, if she is selected the party's candidate The party opened its nomination process for anyone seeking the party's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election earlier this week. The nominations will close at 4pm next Tuesday, 15 July, a statement from the party said. Advertisement To be nominated, a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the Parliamentary Party, 25 Fine Gael Councillors and five members of the Executive Council, it said. Explaining his decision on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland programme, Kelly said he had to weigh up the pros and cons of the decision. I asked myself one question. I said, am I happy with what I'm doing with the moment? And I said, I am. Would I be happier spending seven years in the Áras, considering John B Keane said, 'A day out of Kerry is a day wasted.' And I said, perhaps not. The former GAA president admitted he was 'very disappointed' in some respects, because the role is one 'that comes along once in a lifetime' and he felt he had the support of many TDs and supporters within Fine Gael and outside the party too. Kelly said he would continue his 'responsible jobs' in Europe, adding that he 'got a massive vote last year, by far and away, thankfully, the highest of any candidate' in that European election. While he said he would support McGuinness for the presidency, he said he thinks the party members 'would like to have a contest' to decide on the Fine Gael runner. Speculation has been increasing about who will succeed Michael D Higgins, with Mary Lou McDonald refusing to rule herself out as a Sinn Féin presidential candidate , whereas former RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy has denied he will go for the position . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Fine Gael to open nominations for its presidential candidate tomorrow
FINE GAEL IS to open its nomination process for anyone seeking the party's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election tomorrow. The nominations will close at 4pm on the following Tuesday, 15 July, a statement from the party said. To be nominated, a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the Parliamentary Party, 25 Fine Gael Councillors and five members of the Executive Council, it said. Advertisement If a public representative is also a member of the Executive Council, they must indicate in which capacity they are nominating. In the event of a contest where more than one person is successful in being nominated for the candidacy, an electoral college voting system applies. Under the voting system, every member of the party in compliance with the two-year rule has a vote. The membership element of the college is worth 30% of the overall vote, councillors' votes are worth 15%, and the parliamentary party accounts for 55%. There will be a number of hustings held in late July and a postal ballot of members will take place across August. The parliamentary party will vote in September, as will councillors. The selected candidate will be ratified at an event in September. President Michael D Higgins's term will conclude on 11 November. Related Reads Two more names surface for presidency bids as Mary Hanafin confirms intent to run Why are so few candidates dipping their toe in the water in the race for the Áras? The election of the next President must take place within the sixty days before that, leaving the election open to be held from any stage from 13 September to 10 November. It is understood that at present, former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness is the frontrunner for the party's nomination for the presidency, although MEP Seán Kelly has also declared his interest in contesting. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Seán Kelly has all but declared for the presidential election race
Muiris O'Cearbhaill reports from Brussels FINE GAEL MEP Seán Kelly has not ruled out a potential presidential bid and would like the candidacy to be contested within the party. The Kerry-based vote better said he has not made a final decision if he intends to seek his party's nomination. Kelly, the former President of the GAA who topped the poll in Ireland South last year and secured a fourth term at the European Parliament, wants there to be a hustings in Fine Gael, however. He said he has met with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and executive John Carroll in recent weeks to discuss the election, and claims they would like to see a competition. 'Nominations have to close, I think, in a fortnight's time, and then you have to declare by 18 July. So I'll be making my mind up by then,' he said. Advertisement 'I have to think about it. It's a great honour, and somebody must do it,' he added, and laughed. Asked what is the biggest reason why he has not declared formally, Kelly insinuated he wasn't a fan of the seven-year term length. 'It's a deterrent. Seven years. I mean, it's crazy really when you look at it. Government has five years, councils have five years, MEPs have five years, Commission has five years, Trump has only four years – thank god.' He added: 'Seven is a long time. Especially when you're coming up in age.' 'One term would be more than enough. Well, Michael D [ Higgins] said the same, but then he got fond of it and wouldn't leave it.' Kelly said if Áras an Uachtaráin was located in Killarney, he would declare in the morning. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Post
04-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Fine Gael TD says lower VAT rate for hospitality sector will boost small businesses
A FINE GAEL TD has said the proposed 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality sector is vital to helping small businesses survive and grow amid a challenging economic climate. Speaking on Sunday, John Clendennen described small businesses as 'the backbone of the Irish economy' as he reiterated his support for the reduced rate for food and catering services. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe revealed in February that he hoped to announce the 9 per cent rate on budget day for the food and catering sector, where he believes it can have the biggest impact. However, he said the overall cost of such a move would be €675m per year. The government previously cut the rate to 9 per cent between November 2020 and August 2023 at a cost of more than €1.3bn. Deputy Clendennen, who is also president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, said the proposed VAT rate 'would make a huge difference' to the hospitality sector. "Having worked in the hospitality sector I know how important it is to support our small and medium businesses in our towns, villages, and cities," he said. "Small businesses are the backbone of the Irish economy. They are at the heart of every community, fuelling our local economies, and providing good quality, stable jobs. 'Struggling to keep afloat' "Fine Gael has been unwavering in its support for Irish businesses. My colleagues Minister Peter Burke and Minister Paschal Donohoe want to ensure we help the hospitality sector deal with the ever-increasing costs of doing business and the ever-diminishing margins. "Minister Burke is bringing forward a Competitiveness Action Plan with the Tánaiste Simon Harris before Summer, which will contain measures to support our SME sector. "The government has done a lot to support businesses, but we need to do more and having the 9 per cent VAT rate would make a huge difference for the hospitality sector. "Businesses across the country are facing challenges, that's why we decided to pause the increase of statutory sick days from five to seven and delayed the introduction of a living wage until 2029. "We can't ignore that there are cafes, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses across Ireland that are struggling to keep afloat. "Fine Gael has always backed business, especially our small and medium-sized enterprises and we want to see them thrive with a 9 per cent VAT rate." See More: Budget, John Clendennen, Paschal Donohoe
