Michael Wallace (born 9 November 1955) is an Irish politician, former property developer and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency from 2019 to 2024. He is a member of Independents 4 Change, part of The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 2011 to 2019.[2][3]
Mick Wallace | |
---|---|
Member of the European Parliament | |
In office 2 July 2019 – 17 July 2024 | |
Constituency | South |
Teachta Dála | |
In office February 2011 – July 2019 | |
Constituency | Wexford |
Personal details | |
Born | Michael Wallace 9 November 1955[1] Wexford, Ireland |
Political party |
|
Spouse |
Mary Murphy
(m. 1979; div. 1992) |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Website | mickwallace |
Entering politics in 2011 following the post-2008 Irish economic downturn, Wallace was considered one of the most eccentric and unconventional figures in Irish politics.[4][5] Wallace gained a reputation for anti-establishment and left-wing populist views,[5][6] and became a frequent guest on the political debate show Tonight with Vincent Browne. In 2012, it emerged that during his time as a property developer, Wallace's company owed €2.1 million to the state in unpaid value-added taxes.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
Since 2012, Wallace has had a close political association with Clare Daly. As an MEP, Wallace has gained international attention for his foreign policy positions, describing himself as fighting "anti-Russia" and "anti-China" rhetoric. His views have been the subject of controversy and criticism in Europe, but have been promoted by state-controlled media in Russia, China, Iran, Syria, and other authoritarian states.[5][13][14][15][16][17]
Early and personal life
editWallace was born in Wellingtonbridge in County Wexford, Ireland in 1955. The son of businessman Joseph Wallace and his wife Maureen,[18][19] he was one of a family of 12 children.[20] His father, a former Fianna Fáil member, was the head of a family that owned and operated several businesses in Wellingtonbridge.[21][22][23] He graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in English, history and philosophy, and later obtained a teaching qualification.[24][25] He married Mary Murphy from Duncormick, County Wexford in 1979; the couple had two sons, but the marriage ended when the children were young. Wallace had two more children from another relationship in the 1990s.[23]
In 2007, Wallace founded the Wexford Football Club[26] which he managed for their first three seasons,[27] and was chairman of its board.[28][29] The club is in the League of Ireland First Division.[30] He is also a supporter of Italian football club Torino.[31]
Prior to entering politics Wallace owned a property development and construction company completing developments such as The Italian Quarter in the Ormond Quay area of the Dublin quays. The company later collapsed into liquidation, with Wallace finally being declared bankrupt on 19 December 2016.[32][33][34]
Political career and election as TD
editPrior to entering politics, Wallace had expressed his political views publicly. In 2002, Dublin City Council took a case to the High Court to demand Wallace remove a banner saying "No to War. No to Nice. No to American Terrorism". The court ruled in Wallace's favour, allowing him to keep the banner.[35] In 2003, the council forced Wallace to remove another banner opposing the Iraq War from one of his sites.[36]
On 5 February 2011, while a guest on Tonight with Vincent Browne, Wallace made the announcement that he intended to contest the upcoming general election on 25 February as an Independent candidate.[37] Running on the slogan "For a New Politics",[38] he topped the poll in the Wexford constituency with 13,329 votes and was elected on the first count.[39] According to John Dwyer, who stood against him in that election, Wallace's tax affairs were "the talk of the pubs, all of these things were known. Because he was such a rebel, because he was prepared to stick the finger up at the authorities, he got elected."[23]
Shortly after being elected, Wallace was caught by a microphone in Dáil Éireann saying "Miss Piggy has toned it down a bit today", referring to an outfit worn by Mary Mitchell O'Connor. After Mitchell O'Connor described the comments as "really hurtful" to her,[40] he accepted responsibility and later apologised, saying "It was my fault. I passed the reference because of her handbag. I'm completely out of order. I don't have a leg to stand on […] Clearly it was in bad taste." He called Mitchell O'Connor to apologise and said he would write a letter of apology to her as well.[41]
Wallace co-founded the Independents 4 Change, which was registered to stand for elections in March 2014.[42]
During their time in the Dáil, Wallace and Dublin North TD Clare Daly became friends and political allies, and worked together on many campaigns, including opposition to austerity and highlighting revelations of alleged Garda malpractices, including harassment, improper cancellation of penalty points and involvement of officers in the drug trade.[43][44][45] Wallace and Daly were partially active in protesting the Garda whistleblower scandal, which eventually caused the resignation of Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, although she was later cleared of wrongdoing by the Charleton Tribunal.
In December 2015, Wallace and independent TDs Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan each put forward offers of a €5,000 surety for a man charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and with possession of a component part of an improvised explosive device.[46]
At the 2016 general election, Wallace stood as an Independents 4 Change candidate and was re-elected, finishing third on the first-preference count with 7,917 votes.[47][48]
After losing his European Parliament seat, Wallace announced that he would run in Wexford at the 2024 general election.[49] He was unsuccessful in returning to the Dáil, having only polled 1,615 first-preferences, and was eliminated on the eighth count.[50][51]
Political views during his time in the Dáil
editWallace has stated that the welfare of women working in prostitution would be improved if the trade were not pushed underground.[52]
He said he was "a bit flabbergasted" by the introduction of the household charge brought in as part of the 2012 Budget, and by how that party had changed from when it was in opposition.[53] On 15 December 2011, he helped to launch a nationwide campaign against the household charge.[54]
Wallace was criticised and accused of "defending terrorism" by Joan Burton, then Ireland's Tánaiste,[55] for comments he made during the November 2015 Paris attacks. While the attacks were unfolding, Wallace posted on his Twitter account "So terrible for the victims, but when is France going to stop its role in the militarisation of the planet?", sparking an angry reaction on social media.[56]
In 2017, Wallace called on Ireland to join the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israel and "condemn the illegal expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands as well as the ongoing human rights abuses against Palestinians".[57] Wallace proposed an "official boycott of goods from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories".[58]
Arrest at Shannon Airport
editIn July 2014, Wallace and Daly were arrested at Shannon Airport while trying to board a US military aircraft. Wallace said the airport was being used as a US military base and that the government should be searching the planes to ensure that they are not involved in military operations or that there are no weapons on board.[59][60] Wallace was fined €2,000 for being in an airside area without permission, and chose not to pay. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison in default, and in December 2015 was arrested for non-payment of the fine.[61] Joan Burton accused Wallace of "putting Irish people at risk" of terrorism by repeatedly linking Shannon Airport to US-led wars "simply for the sake of some media coverage".[62]
Member of the European Parliament
editAt the 2019 European Parliament election, he was elected as an MEP for the South constituency,[63] receiving 81,780 (11.4%) of first-preference votes.[64]
Mick Wallace has been criticised for supporting Russia, Belarus, China, Syria, Venezuela and Ecuador during his period as an MEP.[4][65] In November 2020, Wallace referred to Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as a "pawn of western neoliberalism".[66] In February 2021, Wallace was reprimanded for using a swear word during a session of the European Parliament, when he called Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó an "unelected gobshite".[67] In September 2022, he was one of 19 MEPs who voted against condemning Nicaragua for the arrest of Rolando Álvarez.[68][69]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wallace opposed vaccination passports. He has said "I’m not anti-vax but we're going down a dangerous path with Covid pass" and expressed concerns about civil liberties.[70] Both Wallace and Daly have refused to present vaccination certs upon entering the European Parliament, resulting in them being reprimanded.[71]
In November 2022, Wallace criticised protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, accusing some protestors of violence and destruction and saying it "would not be tolerated anywhere".[72][73]
In a speech at the European parliament, Wallace criticised the EU for failing to adequately investigate the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipeline. He referred to Seymour Hersh's conclusion that US navy divers blew up the pipeline and said "has the EU become so subservient, to US empire that yous can’t even ask them if they did it? Yous are a fucking joke".[74][75]
In the 2024 European Parliament elections, Wallace and Daly were endorsed by actress Susan Sarandon, who said they were "speaking up loud and clear for international solidarity" and "There are very few voices for peace in places of power and we need them more than ever now, especially with what’s going on in Gaza".[76] Wallace received 52,803 (7.7%) first preference votes but lost his seat.[77] Clare Daly also lost her seat in the election.[78][79]
Visit to Iraqi militia group
editIn April 2021, Wallace and Clare Daly were called "embarrassments to Ireland" by Fianna Fáil's Malcolm Byrne after the two MEPs travelled to Iraq and visited the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashed al-Shaabi), an Iraqi militia supported by Iran. Byrne criticised them for meeting with a group that supports the oppression of gay people and accused them of being used as propaganda by the militia. Footage of their visit was used in a promotional video by the Popular Mobilization Forces.[80][81]
Views on Syria
editWallace challenged the director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Fernando Arias, in the European Parliament in April 2021. He accused the OPCW of falsely blaming the government of Bashar al-Assad for the 2018 Douma chemical attack. He suggested that the White Helmets may have staged the attack and alleged they were "paid for by the US and UK to carry out regime change in Syria".[82] Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews called Wallace's accusation against the White Helmets a conspiracy theory and disinformation.[83] French MEP Nathalie Loiseau described Wallace's comments as "fake news" and apologised on his behalf to NGO groups in Syria.[84][82]
In a European Parliament hearing in 2021, Wallace argued that Bashar Al-Assad had defended Syria from "genocidal extremists" and asked which of the policies of Assad or the United States were "more authoritarian".[84]
Wallace has opposed sanctions against the Syrian government[85] and was one of eight MEPs to put forward a motion to remove sanctions against the Syrian government.[86]
Views on Russia and Ukraine
editWallace has consistently voted against resolutions critical of Vladimir Putin's Russia.[87] He describes himself as fighting against "anti-Russian" rhetoric.[88] According to The Irish Times, Wallace and Daly's positions on Putin's Russia have caused tensions with other members of The Left in the European Parliament. Wallace tabled amendments on behalf of the Left, seeking to "water down" resolutions against Russia. He sought to remove a statement that a Dutch-led investigation found that Russia's military supplied the missile which downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, killing 298 civilians.[84][4]
In January 2022, Wallace described the Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border as being "clearly defensive" in reaction to NATO.[89] He called for NATO to be abolished, alleging that it wanted a war and saying "it has nothing good to offer anyone that prefers peace".[88] Amid fears of an invasion, Wallace was one of 52 MEPs who voted against offering Ukraine €1.2 billion in loans (compared to 598 MEPs in favour).[88]
In March 2022, Wallace was one of 13 MEPs who voted against a European Parliament resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[90] Wallace was criticised by constituents and others in Ireland,[91] as well as the EU rapporteur on Ukraine, Michael Gahler, who said "Maybe he is under instruction from Moscow or the embassy there".[92] Wallace explained that he opposed Russia's invasion, but did not back the resolution because it called for sending "defensive weapons to Ukraine", adding "the way forward is not putting in more arms ... the way forward is negotiation" with Russia.[93] He said there must be acceptance of Russia's "genuine security concerns" about the idea of Ukraine joining NATO.[91] Russian state media played clips of him criticising the EU response to the invasion.[13]
Wallace has opposed broad sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.[94] He voted against a resolution to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism,[95] and voted against establishing a tribunal to investigate the Russian leadership for crimes of aggression against Ukraine.[96]
Several months into the Russian invasion, Wallace accused the EU and the governing parties in Ireland (Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael) of "promoting" and "loving" the war in Ukraine.[97] He alleged it was "being fought on behalf of NATO" and said that EU states had been "bullied" into "taking sides" against Russia.[97] He rejected claims that he supports Vladimir Putin, saying "he stole the election last year from the Communists, who I'd have liked to have seen winning it".[97]
In a 2024 interview, Wallace described the invasion of Ukraine as a "US NATO proxy war" and said Russia were provoked into invading. Responding to positive media coverage his views have received in Russia, he said "It's hardly our fault if we're getting favourable press. Most people don't give out about favourable press. A lot of countries feel that we're calling things as they are."[98]
Support for convicted and alleged Russian spies
editIn November 2021, Wallace and Daly travelled to Lithuania to support Algirdas Paleckis, a politician found guilty of spying for Russia.[13] A trial found that Russia's Federal Security Service paid off his mortgage in return for information.[13] Wallace said that Paleckis was "accused of being a Russian spy because he expressed an opinion that the State didn't like" and that the conviction was "authoritarianism".[99] In May 2022, Paleckis's conviction for spying was upheld.[100]
While in Lithuania, Wallace and Daly protested together with Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka.[13] Eight days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the three MEPs again protested together in the European Parliament wearing shirts bearing the Russian slogan "Stop killing Donbass children".[13] In January 2024, Ždanoka was also accused of spying for Russian intelligence agencies in a joint investigation by Russian, Latvian, Estonian and Swedish journalists.[101][102]
Views on China
editWallace has said he has "a lot of respect" for China, saying they have a "much more healthy state involvement in the organisation of society".[98] In response to concerns about human rights abuses in the country, he responded "But sure 25% of the world's prisoners are in jail in America. Does anyone ever talk about it?", adding "There's human rights problems everywhere. There's human rights issues in Ireland."[98]
Chinese state-owned news agency China Daily said that Wallace's tweets and speeches in the European Parliament challenging "anti-China rhetoric" have been widely reported by Chinese news outlets and social media.[103] In May 2021, Wallace asked in the European Parliament: "Why are we choosing an aggressive position with China? Why are we not choosing co-operation instead of aggression? Why are we not respecting the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference? We should be working for peace with China, it’s in our interests". Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Neale Richmond criticised his comments and questioned why Wallace was "lionizing China, Russia, Belarus, Syria".[65]
In July 2021, Wallace said that reports of one million Uighurs being detained in Chinese internment camps were "grossly exaggerated". He criticised what he saw as "anti-Chinese rhetoric" in the European Parliament and Irish media. Wallace said China "takes better care of its people" than the European Union in an interview with Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times,[104] and said the Chinese Communist Party "deserved a lot of credit" for "helping so many hundreds of millions in China to move out of poverty".[105]
In October 2021, Wallace posted a video on social media in which he said there was "never any solid evidence" of Uighur mass detention camps. In the same video, Wallace said that Taiwan is "part of China" and "is recognised as such by the United Nations".[106] Wallace's video was afterwards broadcast on Chinese state media, prompting the government of Taiwan to give an official rebuke of his claims.[106] A spokesperson for the Taiwanese government in Dublin stated that the United Nations did "not authorise the People’s Republic of China to represent Taiwan in the United Nations, let alone claim that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy that is appreciated and supported by like-minded partners around the world. The right to democratic self-determination should not and will not be forfeited".[106] Wallace's comments also prompted other Irish politicians to speak out against him. Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness said he was "flabbergasted" upon seeing Wallace's video and called on him to remove it.[106] Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer called on Wallace to speak to Taiwanese groups in Ireland and to respect the right of "democratic self-determination".[107]
A 2022 report by The Irish Times said that, since January 2021, Wallace had been featured in more Chinese-language news articles than any other Irish person aside from Daly.[13] As a result of his fame in China, the Chinese have nicknamed him the "Golden Lion King" [note 1] and "Silver Lion King". [note 2][108][109]
Venezuelan and Ecuadorian election monitoring
editIn June 2021, Wallace and Daly were among the MEPs censured by the European Parliament's Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, for acting as unofficial election monitors in the December 2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election and April 2021 Ecuadorian general election, without a mandate or permission from the EU. Official EU overseas trips had also been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[110] Wallace and Daly were barred until the end of 2021 from making any election missions. They were warned that any further such action may result in their ejection from the European Parliament. While MEPs can make personal trips overseas, according to The Irish Times, Wallace and Daly made no mention in their tweets that they were acting in an unofficial capacity.[110]
Wallace and Daly issued a joint statement that read: "This is a political stunt by the centre right parties in the European Parliament, and we will be challenging it. These were not ‘fake’ election-observation trips. We made abundantly clear by public announcement at the time that we were not visiting Ecuador or Venezuela with an official election observation mandate". They continued: "Although we regret that the Ecuadorian people did not choose Andrés Arauz as their president, we found the elections to be conducted fairly and impartially".[110] Ecuadorian election officials complained that Wallace could not be an objective election observer while openly supporting one side.[4][verification needed]
Financial and legal issues
editBankruptcy
editIn May 2011, Wallace said that he would face personal financial ruin and the possible loss of his Dáil seat, if banks were to chase him for personal guarantees he had given them. According to Wallace, his company had passed rents it collected directly to ACCBank since 2008. In a statement Wallace said: "I've tried to build well — we were a very successful company for a long time. We weren't bad, we weren't doing crazy things. We've made money every year for 20 years, employed a lot of people, paid our taxes. But the financial crisis arrived, completely undermined the value of our assets and we're no longer in a great place." He told RTÉ, "If a bank tries to make me bankrupt it has more to do with 'badness' than economics."[111][112] On 10 October 2011, the Commercial Court ordered Wallace to repay more than €19 million owed to ACCBank.[113][114] He said he did not have the money.[115][116][117]
On 30 January 2016, it was ruled that Wallace would have to pay €2m to US vulture fund Cerberus.[118] Wallace was finally declared bankrupt on 19 December 2016 with debts of over €30 million.[119]
Withholding of employees pension contributions
editIn 2011, Wallace pleaded guilty to five charges of withholding his employees' pension contributions in a case taken by the Irish Pensions Board. Wallace said the case had arisen as a result of a "discrepancy" and that he had paid all of the money due.[120]
Under-payment of tax
editIn June 2012, The Irish Times reported that Wallace had made a seven-figure settlement with the Revenue Commissioners for under-payment of VAT. The sum related to his company MJ Wallace Ltd. Wallace admitted in the course of the article that he had knowingly made false declarations to the authorities. Under the agreement with Revenue, MJ Wallace Ltd was found to have under-declared VAT liabilities on returns by €1,418,894. Interest came to €289,146 and penalties amounting to €425,668 were imposed, giving a total of €2,133,708.[121] Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett wrote to the Oireachtas Committee on Members' Interests Chairman, asking him to convene an inquiry.[122]
Hitman comments
editWhen Wallace stated on The Marian Finucane Show in October 2012 that back in 2005 he once "threatened to hire a hitman to recover an IR£20,000 debt from a building firm", a complaint was filed with Gardaí by a former Navy officer who runs a public information website.[123] Later the same month, Finian McGrath resigned as chairman of the Dáil technical group when Wallace returned to the loose alliance against the wishes of many of its members.[124]
Alan Shatter data breach controversy
editDuring a debate between the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter and Wallace on RTÉ television in May 2013, Shatter divulged that Wallace had been cautioned by Gardaí for using his phone while driving. Shatter was later found to have broken General Data Protection Regulation laws by revealing personal information about Wallace.[125][126][127] Shatter said he obtained the information from then Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.[128] Callinan and Shatter both lost their jobs soon afterward, Shatter partially for this breach of the law among other controversies.[129] Wallace disagreed with the appointment of Callinan's successor Nóirín O'Sullivan, citing her previous role as deputy commissioner to Callinan.[130]
Undeclared income as an MEP
editIn February 2023 Wallace claimed on social media that he had "three wine bars in Dublin". This aroused alarm from Wallace's European parliamentary group, as no such assets were listed on his mandatory declaration of financial interests. After the chair of his parliamentary group called any omission from the declaration "unacceptable” and not “worthy of our political group”, Wallace amended his declaration to state that he is an "advisor" to the three wine bars, and receives up to €500 a month in income for this role.[131][132]
RTÉ lawsuit
editIn April 2022, Daly and Wallace sued for defamation against RTÉ, the Republic of Ireland's national broadcasting service, for undisclosed reasons.[133] Their lawsuit was flagged as a potential threat to press freedom by the Index on Censorship and International Press Institute. The organizations alerted the Council of Europe, filing it under "harassment and intimidation of journalists". A statement from the Index on Censorship said "we believe that they are characteristic of strategic lawsuits against public participation – also known as SLAPPs".[134]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mick Wallace: Biography". League of Ireland. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Mick Wallace". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ Keena, Colm (7 November 2016). "Bankruptcy move latest twist in Mick Wallace-Cerberus saga". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d In the News podcast (9 July 2021). "Why are MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly in trouble at the European Parliament?" (Podcast). Irish Times. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Byrne, Elaine (April 2022). "Elaine Byrne: How the people's champions became tools of the Kremlin propaganda machine". Business Post. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ McCarthy, Justine (9 December 2022). "Justine McCarthy: Wallace's sympathy for Iranian regime strips bare his faux radicalism". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
Personally likeable, he built an electoral appeal with his anti-establishment persona – trespassing in protest against US military use at Shannon Airport and making explosive revelations about Nama, the State's bad bank for developers. The publicity he reaped could be measured in newspaper column inches stretching all the way from Leinster House to Wexford and back again.
- ^ Heffernan, Breda (9 June 2012). "Wallace plans to address Dail on Tuesday". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
Mr Wallace is heading off to Poland for Euro 2012, despite the huge backlash against his false declaration of VAT and an unpaid €2.1m tax bill.
- ^ "Clare Daly resigns from the Socialist Party". RTÉ News. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ "Profile: Clare Daly TD". The Phoenix. 2 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ Grant, Adrian (21 October 2021). "Column: Troubles over Mick Wallace follow a long line of left-wing splits". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
The fallout from technical group member Mick Wallace's tax affairs has seen Clare Daly resign from the Socialist Party
- ^ McQuinn, Cormac (6 July 2021). "In focus: Mick Wallace - the boomtime builder whose fortunes were battered by economic crash". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ Ní Aodha, Gráinne (19 December 2019). "Can Mick Wallace still be a TD after being declared bankrupt today?". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g O’Leary, Naomi. "How Clare Daly and Mick Wallace became stars of authoritarian state media". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Grimes, David Robert (17 March 2022). "Putin's Willing Disinformation Agents". Byline Times. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ Bielenberg, Kim (4 February 2022). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly — the 'anti-imperialists' who defended Putin". Irish Independent.
- ^ Loughlin, Elaine (8 March 2022). "Wallace and Daly fail to reflect the wishes of the people they represent". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Clifford, Michael (4 July 2021). "Michael Clifford: Mick Wallace is making a right show of himself". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "Citizen Wallace". Hotpress. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "The mothers of Wallace's children don't have a bad word to say about him". Irish Independent. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Weekend Review". Irish Independent, 16 June 2012.
- ^ "Wallaces `own' Wellingtonbridge!". Irish Independent. 4 August 2000. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ O'Connor, Anne Marie (8 February 2011). "'NO PROMISES' FROM WALLACE". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Ni Bhraonain, Eimear (9 June 2012). "Jet-setting football lover still one of Dail's great enigmas". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ Loughlin, Elaine (20 December 2017). "Wallace leaves behind debts of €30m as he exits bankruptcy". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Clancy, Paddy (13 June 2012). "Irish politician Mick Wallace caught out in tax uproar". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "About Mick". mickwallace.net. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Wexford Youths manager Mick Wallace looks forward to the big match Team who wants it most should come out on top". Enniscorthy Guardian. 26 April 2007. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Useful contacts". Wexford Youths F.C. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "O'Shea hopes to fill void left by Wallace's departure". Independent.ie. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Airtricity League Stats Centre". Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "The Irish politician whose love for Torino goes beyond going viral". ESPN.com. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Popular TD is a man of contradictions: Mick Wallace exits bankruptcy". www.irishexaminer.com. 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Former Wallace units have a tasty price tag of €1.28m". www.independent.ie. 20 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Liffey Wall Theft". RTÉ Archives. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Stafford, Mikey (13 July 2009). "The agent developing Irish football while loving all things Italian". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ O’Doherty, Caroline (15 March 2011). "Pub owner may be forced by law to remove 40-foot banner barring Queen". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Mick Wallace among high profile independents set to do well at election". TheJournal.ie. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
- ^ "Mick's unusual slogan raises a few eyebrows". Irish Independent. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Mick Wallace". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ O'Grady, Rosemary (15 July 2011). "Mitchell O'Connor: 'Miss Piggy comments really hurtful to me' - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Miss Piggy remark was wrong, I'm so sorry – Mick apologises". Irish Independent. Dublin. 13 July 2011. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ "Iris Oifigiúil, 14th March 2014" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Wallace: 'I've heard so many people cry now, it really is heartbreaking stuff' – Since this week's publicity surrounding the gardaí, Mick Wallace said more people have come to him with information". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ O'Halloran, Marie (3 October 2014). "Wallace in new claims of Garda harassment over Kilkenny pub: Independent TD claims 'blatant disregard' for new rules by some senior members of force". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ Griffin, Dan; Minihan, Mary (11 December 2014). "Mick Wallace claims gardaí involved in drugs trade: Independent TD says he and colleagues revealed only a fraction of wrongdoing allegations". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ Hickey, Daniel (17 December 2015). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly among sureties on bail application for man arrested on IRA and explosive charges". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Independents 4 Change". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "Wexford constituency". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Election 2024 Day 8: Mick Wallace announces he will run in General Election in last 24 hours to declare". Irish Independent. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Wexford - your updates". RTE. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Only Verona Murphy elected so far". Wexford Local. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Independent TD Wallace says prostitutes would be better protected if their trade was not forced underground". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ O'Halloran, Marie (14 December 2011). "Government accused of chasing taxpayers 'to graveyard' for charge". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- ^ "TDs would go to jail over household charge". RTÉ News. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
- ^ "Mick Wallace criticised over tweet about Paris attacks". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ Cullen, Clare (14 November 2015). "Paris Terror Attacks: Mick Wallace sparks anger on Twitter over Paris terror attacks tweet". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ^ "I listened to the opening statement...: 25 Jan 2017: Dáil debates (KildareStreet.com)". www.kildarestreet.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "Trade Sanctions – Tuesday, 30 May 2017 – Parliamentary Questions (32nd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas".
- ^ O'Carroll, Sinead (22 July 2014). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly are arrested at Shannon Airport". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Two TDs arrested at Shannon Airport". BreakingNews.ie. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "TD Mick Wallace has been arrested". BreakingNews.ie. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Ó Cionnaith, Fiachra (18 December 2015). "Mick Wallace 'putting people at risk' by linking Shannon airport to US-led wars". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Ireland South: Mick Wallace elected, and his transfers set to decide who wins 'zombie' seat". Irish Independent. Dublin. 5 June 2019. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ "Mick Wallace emerges as surprise package of Ireland South euro vote". Irish Examiner. 28 May 2019.
- ^ a b Bryant, Aoibhin (6 May 2021). "Neale Richmond tears into Mick Wallace over his defence of China". extra.ie. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Mahon, Brian (1 November 2020). "Belarus's opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejects MEP Mick Wallace's 'pawn' claim". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Mick Wallace reprimanded for calling Venezuelan opposition leader an 'unelected gob*****'". Irish Examiner. Cork. 13 February 2021. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Nicaragua, en particulier l'arrestation de l'évêque Rolando Álvarez" (PDF).
- ^ "Breda O'Brien: Daly and Wallace equivocate over Nicaraguan regime". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "'I'm not anti-vax but we're going down a dangerous path with Covid pass' – Mick Wallace". Wexford People. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ Mahon, Brian. "Irish MEPs reprimanded for failing to show Covid passes in parliament". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Mick Wallace criticises protests in Iran and 'propaganda' against regime". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "MEP Mick Wallace criticises protests in Iran - 'It would not be tolerated anywhere'". independent. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ Mulgrew, Seoirse (18 February 2023). "Elon Musk reacts over Mick Wallace comments with reference to satirical meme". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Irish MEP lectures the Commission: 'The EU is subservient to the US'". The Nordic Times. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ Wilson, James (29 May 2024). "Susan Sarandon endorses Mick Wallace and Clare Daly". Newstalk. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "European Elections: South". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Wallace loses seat as counting continues in Midlands-North-West". RTÉ News. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Controversial Dublin MEP candidate Clare Daly loses seat despite celebrity backing". The Guardian. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Raymond, Shane (8 April 2021). "Footage of Irish MEPs in Iraq used in YouTube video promoting a militia group". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Loughlin, Elaine (9 April 2021). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly defend visit to Iraqi militia HQ". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ a b Hosford, Paul (26 April 2021). "MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly reject claims they spread 'fake news' about Syria attack". Irish Examiner. Cork. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ O'Leary, Naomi (6 July 2021). "Fianna Fáil MEP claims Daly and Wallace had spread 'conspiracy theory' on Syria". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ^ a b c O’Leary, Naomi (2 July 2021). "Tensions rise over Mick Wallace's and Clare Daly's views". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
Dutch MEP Anja Hazekamp spoke passionately about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 ... Flight MH17 brought the rift between Wallace and Hazekamp into the open, though Hazekamp declined to comment for this article.
- ^ Costello, Norma (4 September 2022). "Clare Daly And Mick Wallace Went On Rogue State Tour". Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Ali, Ibrahim Al Shikh; Costello, Norma (28 June 2023). "Assad's fringe supporters in the European Parliament". The New Arab. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Irish MEPs among the least critical of Russia - report". RTÉ News. 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Jade (22 February 2022). "Abolish Nato, says Independent MEP Mick Wallace". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (26 January 2022). "Russia's mobilisation along Ukraine border is 'clearly defensive', Wallace and Daly say". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ Loughlin, Elaine (1 March 2022). "Mick Wallace and Clare Daly reject EU resolution to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine". Irish Examiner. Cork. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ a b Boland, Lauren (9 March 2022). "'We're not playing to a gallery': Daly and Wallace defend decision on Russia vote after criticism". TheJournal.ie.
- ^ "EU rapporteur on Ukraine criticises Clare Daly and Mick Wallace for voting down Russia motion". Irish Examiner. 8 March 2022.
- ^ Duffy, Rónán (2 March 2022). "Mick Wallace says sending arms to Ukraine is 'madness' as he defends vote against EU motion". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "MOTION FOR a RESOLUTION on the European Council, Council and Commission statements - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: Including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation".
- ^ Moloney, Eoghan (23 November 2022). "Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace oppose European Parliament resolution to declare Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism'".
- ^ "MEPs Wallace and Daly vote against call for tribunal to prosecute Russia for invasion of Ukraine". The Irish Times. 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "Mick Wallace accuses Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of 'promoting and loving' the war in Ukraine". Irish Independent. 7 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Byrne, Pádraig (3 June 2024). "Mick Wallace: 'Myself and Clare have become probably the two best-known MEPs in Europe… there was huge pressure on us to run again'". www.independent.ie. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ Mick Wallace. "The treatment of journalist Algirdas Paleckis by #Lithuania State is truly shocking. He's accused of being a Russian spy because he expressed an opinion that the State didn't like. This is an #EU Member State - So much for Rule of Law - Authoritarianism is now rampant in the EU." Twitter.
- ^ "Paleckis dėl šnipinėjimo Rusijai lieka nuteistas šešerius metus kalėti". LRT (in Lithuanian). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "New investigation alleges Latvian member of European Parliament has secretly worked for Russian FSB for 20 years". Meduza. 29 January 2024.
- ^ O’Leary, Naomi (29 January 2024). "Latvian MEP linked to Wallace and Daly accused of working with Russian intelligence". Irish Times. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "MEP cuts through anti-China rhetoric". China Daily. 18 March 2022.
- ^ Staines, Michael (1 July 2021). "Mick Wallace: Reports of one million Uighur people detained in China 'grossly exaggerated'". Newstalk. Dublin. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021.
- ^ O’Leary, Naomi. "'China's communist party deserves a lot of credit' Mick Wallace tells party newspaper". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d Mooney, John (29 October 2021). "Taiwan censures MEP Mick Wallace for video claiming Chinese rule over island". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ McFadden, Mary (27 October 2021). "'Stop spreading fake news' - Irish MEP criticised after releasing controversial video". Limerick Leader. Limerick. ISSN 1649-8992. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ China Daily (11 May 2023). "多次为中国仗义执言,欧洲议会"金毛狮王"有何来头?". QQ.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ ""银毛狮王"华莱士不听美国指挥,为中国伸冤,欧洲政坛泥石流". 163.com. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b c O'Leary, Naomi (28 June 2021). "MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace punished for 'fake election observation'". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
Daly and Wallace were among 12 MEPs disciplined. Others included far-right politicians who attended votes in Kazakhstan and in the Russian-annexed territory of Crimea.
- ^ O'Donovan, Donal; Brennan, Michael (25 May 2011). "Wallace: I face ruin". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Receiver appointed to properties of Mick Wallace TD". Irish Independent. Dublin. 24 May 2011. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ "Mick Wallace ordered to repay €19m to ACC Bank". RTÉ News. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ Reilly, Gavan (10 October 2011). "TD Wallace ordered to repay €19m in bank loans". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "Wallace: I can't pay money back". Irish Examiner. Cork. 10 October 2011. ISSN 1393-9564. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "Wallace: I cannot pay 19m euro". The Belfast Telegraph. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ "Mick Wallace doesn't have €19million for bank". Newstalk. Communicorp. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ Healy, Tim; Phelan, Shane (30 January 2016). "Court rules that Wallace must pay €2m to US vulture fund". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "TD Mick Wallace is adjudicated bankrupt". RTÉ News. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Wallace fined over pension contributions". Irish Independent. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Cullen, Paul (7 June 2012). "Mick Wallace makes €2.1m Revenue settlement". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett seeks inquiry on Wallace tax affairs". RTÉ News. 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- ^ Brennan, Michael (9 October 2012). "Mick Wallace faces garda probe over 'hitman' remarks after ex-Navy officer files complaint". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
- ^ Reilly, Gavan (16 October 2012). "McGrath quits as chairman of Dáil's technical group in Wallace row". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ Horan, Niamh; Drennan, John (4 May 2014). "Final straw as Alan Shatter breaks law on Mick Wallace: Data Protection Commissioner made adverse finding against the minister". Irish Independent. Dublin. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ Lally, Conor (4 November 2014). "Shatter disclosed Wallace information for 'political advantage'". The Irish Times. Dublin. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Alan Shatter loses appeal against Mick Wallace data breach decision: The former minister was found to have broken the law when he made comments on RTÉ's Prime Time about Wallace". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Commissioner told Shatter about Mick Wallace's encounter with Gardaí: Opposition TDs have demanded to know how an unrecorded incident came to be known by the country's top Garda". TheJournal.ie. Dublin. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Ireland's Minister for Justice Alan Shatter resigns". IrishCentral. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
Shatter's position has been under pressure in recent months following a [...] bugging scandal, [...] improper cancellation of driver's penalty points, police whistleblower controversies and a breach of data protection regarding Wexford Independent TD Mick Wallace.
- ^ "Wallace criticises appointment of Garda Commissioner O'Sullivan". Irish Independent. Dublin. 26 November 2014. ISSN 0021-1222. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ O'Leary, Naomi (14 February 2023). "European Left group to seek answers from Mick Wallace over 'wine bars' claim". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ O'Leary, Naomi (15 February 2023). "Mick Wallace earned undeclared money as 'adviser' to wine bar business". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly sue RTÉ". independent. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Daly and Wallace lawsuit flagged for press freedom concerns". The Irish Times. 11 May 2022.
External links
edit- Quotations related to Mick Wallace at Wikiquote
- Media related to Mick Wallace at Wikimedia Commons
- Personal profile of Mick Wallace in the European Parliament's database of members