Michael Wallace (born 9 November 1955) is an Irish politician and former property developer who has been a
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
(MEP) from
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
for the
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
constituency since July 2019. He is a member of
Independents 4 Change
Independents 4 Change ( ga, Neamhspleáigh ar son an Athraithe) is a left-wing Irish political party.
History
The political grouping registered as a political party since 2014. It was previously known as Independents for Equality Movement.
T ...
, part of
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL is a left-wing political group of the European Parliament established in 1995. Before January 2021, it was named the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (french: link=no, Gauche unitaire europ ...
. He was a
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...
(TD) for the
Wexford
Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 N ...
constituency from 2011 to 2019.
Entering politics in 2011 following the
post-2008 Irish economic downturn
The post-2008 Irish economic downturn in the Republic of Ireland, coincided with a series of banking scandals, followed the 1990s and 2000s Celtic Tiger period of rapid real economic growth fuelled by foreign direct investment, a subsequent pr ...
, Wallace was almost immediately considered to be one of the most eccentric and unconventional figures in Irish national politics.
Establishing a reputation for
anti-establishment
An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine ''New Statesman'' ...
and
populist
Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...
views,
Wallace became a frequent guest on the political debate show
Tonight with Vincent Browne
''Tonight with Vincent Browne'', (formerly ''Nightly News with Vincent Browne''), was a news analysis, current affairs and politics programme which was broadcast on Ireland's TV3 from 2007 to July 2017. Its time on air coincided with the premie ...
in the process. He soon aligned himself with
Clare Daly
Clare Daly (born 16 April 1968) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2019. She is a member of Independents 4 Change, part of The Left in the European P ...
, forming a political duo still operating as a unit today. In 2012 it emerged that during his time as a property developer, Wallace's company owed €2.1 million to the state in unpaid
VAT taxes.
In recent years Wallace has gained attention for his foreign policy views, particularly regarding
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, which have been the subject of controversy and criticism.
Personal life
Born at
Wellington Bridge in
County Wexford
County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...
, one of a family of 12 children, he graduated from
University College Dublin
University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...
with a teaching qualification. He married Mary Murphy from
Duncormick
Duncormick or Duncormac () is a rural village and surrounding community located in County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. At the time of the 2016 census, the village of Duncormick had a population of 116 people. The village is from Wexf ...
, 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.
In 2007, Wallace founded the
Wexford Football Club which he managed for their first three seasons, and is chairman of its board. The club is in the
League of Ireland First Division
The League of Ireland First Division ( ga, Céad Roinn Sraith na hÉireann), also known as the SSE Airtricity League First Division, is the second level division in both the League of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football league system. Th ...
.
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 Dublin quays () refers to the two roadways and quays that run along the north and south banks of the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. The stretches of the two continuous streets have several different names. However, all but three of the ...
. The company later collapsed into liquidation, with Wallace finally being declared bankrupt on 19 December 2016.
Political career
Wallace has held various positions at both a national and European level as a politician.
2011 general election
On 5 February 2011, while a guest on ''
Tonight with Vincent Browne
''Tonight with Vincent Browne'', (formerly ''Nightly News with Vincent Browne''), was a news analysis, current affairs and politics programme which was broadcast on Ireland's TV3 from 2007 to July 2017. Its time on air coincided with the premie ...
'', Wallace made the announcement that he intended to contest the
upcoming general election on 25 February as an
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
candidate. He topped the poll in the
Wexford constituency with 13,329 votes.
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."
[
]
Independents 4 Change
Wallace is the listed officer of the Independents 4 Change
Independents 4 Change ( ga, Neamhspleáigh ar son an Athraithe) is a left-wing Irish political party.
History
The political grouping registered as a political party since 2014. It was previously known as Independents for Equality Movement.
T ...
, which was registered to stand for elections in March 2014 and along with Clare Daly is one of two MEPs which represent the party in the European parliament.
During their time in the Dáil, Wallace and Dublin North
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 ce ...
TD Clare Daly
Clare Daly (born 16 April 1968) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2019. She is a member of Independents 4 Change, part of The Left in the European P ...
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. Wallace and Daly were partially active in protesting the Garda whistleblower scandal
In 2014, material was revealed by two whistleblowers of the Garda Síochána, Maurice McCabe and John Wilson, to the Confidential Recipient. The disclosures and the handling of the disclosures, led to the resignation of Ireland's Minister for Jus ...
, which eventually caused the resignation of Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, although she was later cleared of wrongdoing by the Charleton Tribunal.
2016 General election
At the 2016 general election, Wallace stood as an Independents 4 Change
Independents 4 Change ( ga, Neamhspleáigh ar son an Athraithe) is a left-wing Irish political party.
History
The political grouping registered as a political party since 2014. It was previously known as Independents for Equality Movement.
T ...
candidate and was re-elected, finishing third on the first-preference count with 7,917 votes.
Political views during his time in the Dáil
Wallace has stated that the welfare of women working in prostitution
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...
would be improved if the trade were not pushed underground.
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. On 15 December 2011, he helped to launch a nationwide campaign against the household charge.
Wallace was criticised and accused of "defending terrorism" by Joan Burton
Joan Burton (born 1 February 1949) is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party from 2014 to 2016, Minister for Social Protection from 2011 to 2016, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 2 ...
, then Ireland's Tánaiste
The Tánaiste ( , ) is the deputy head of the government of Ireland and thus holder of its second-most senior office. The Tánaiste is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Taoiseach. The current office holder is former Taoi ...
, for comments he made during the November 2015 Paris attacks
The November 2015 Paris attacks () were a series of coordinated Islamist terrorist attacks that took place on Friday, 13 November 2015 in Paris, France, and the city's northern suburb, Saint-Denis. Beginning at 9:15p.m., three suicide bombers ...
. While the attacks were unfolding, Wallace posted on his Twitter account "So terrible for the victims, but when is France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
going to stop its role in the militarisation of the planet?", sparking an angry reaction on social media.
In July 2014, Wallace and Daly were arrested at Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport ( ga, Aerfort na Sionainne) is an international airport located in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland. It is adjacent to the Shannon Estuary and lies halfway between Ennis and Limerick. The airport is the third busiest ai ...
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. 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. Joan Burton
Joan Burton (born 1 February 1949) is a former Irish Labour Party politician who served as Tánaiste and Leader of the Labour Party from 2014 to 2016, Minister for Social Protection from 2011 to 2016, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 2 ...
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".
In December 2015, Wallace and independent TDs Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen O'Sullivan (17 May 1911 – 23 June 1998) was an Irish-American actress, who played Jane in the ''Tarzan'' series of films during the era of Johnny Weissmuller. She performed with such actors as Laurence Olivier, Greta Garbo, William ...
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.
Member of the European Parliament
At the 2019 European Parliament election, he was elected as an MEP for the South
South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
constituency.
Mick Wallace has been criticised for supporting Venezuela, Ecuador, China, Russia, Belarus and Syria during his period as an MEP. In November 2020, Wallace referred to Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
Sviatlana Heorhiyeuna Tsikhanouskaya (' Pilipchuk;, , ; russian: Светлана Георгиевна Тихановская, , Svetlana Georgiyevna Tikhanovskaya, , , born 11 September 1982) is a Belarusian educator and the leader of the Bel ...
as a "pawn of western neoliberalism". In February 2021, Wallace was reprimanded for using a swear word during a session of the European Parliament. Wallace had referred to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó
Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez (born 28 July 1983) is a Venezuelan politician, a former member of the Social democracy, social-democratic Popular Will party, and federal deputy to the National Assembly (Venezuela), National Assembly representing ...
as being an "unelected gobshite".
In April 2021, Wallace and Clare Daly
Clare Daly (born 16 April 1968) is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2019. She is a member of Independents 4 Change, part of The Left in the European P ...
were called "embarrassments to Ireland" by Fianna Fail's Malcolm Byrne
Malcolm Byrne (born 25 April 1974) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel since April 2020. He previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 2019 to 2 ...
after the two MEPs had travelled to Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
and visited the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) ( ar, الحشد الشعبي ''al-Ḥashd ash-Shaʿbī''), also known as the People's Mobilization Committee (PMC) and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization ...
, an Iraqi militia supported by Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. 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. The Popular Mobilization Forces later posted video footage on YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
of Wallace and Daly.
Wallace questioned the director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force on 29 April 1997. The OPCW, with its 193 member ...
(OPCW), Fernando Arias
Fernando Arias is a Spanish diplomat, who currently serves as the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisat ...
, in the European Parliament in April 2021. He accused the OPCW of falsely blaming the government of Bashar al-Assad
Bashar Hafez al-Assad, ', Levantine pronunciation: ; (, born 11 September 1965) is a Syrian politician who is the 19th president of Syria, since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and the ...
for the 2018 Douma chemical attack
On 7 April 2018, a chemical warfare attack was carried out by forces of the government of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian city of Douma. Medics and witnesses reported that it caused the deaths of between 40 and 50 people and injuries to possibl ...
. He said that, while he did not know what had happened in Douma, the White Helmets were "paid for by the US and UK to carry out regime change in Syria". Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christian- ...
’s Barry Andrews called Wallace's accusation against the White Helmets a conspiracy theory and disinformation. French MEP Nathalie Loiseau described Wallace's comments as "fake news" and apologised on his behalf to NGO groups in Syria.
In June, 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 European overseas trips have been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. 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 under the end of their terms in 2024. 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.
Daly and Wallace issued a joint statement in response 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
Andrés Arauz Galarza (born 6 February 1985) is an Ecuadorian politician and economist. He was a candidate for President in the 2021 election.
Background
Andrés Arauz started his career as a public servant in 2009 at the Central Bank of Ec ...
as their president, we found the elections to be conducted fairly and impartially, and their results are beyond question." Ecuadorian election officials complained that Wallace could not be an objective election observer while openly supporting one side, such as Andrés Arauz, over the other.
Wallace has stated his opposition to vaccination certificates. 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. Both Wallace and Daly have refused to present vaccination certs upon entering the European Parliament, resulting in them being reprimanded by the European Parliament.
In April 2022, Wallace and Daly initiated defamation proceedings against RTÉ
(RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
.
On 15 September 2022, he was one of 16 MEPs who voted against condemning President Daniel Ortega
José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (; born 11 November 1945) is a Nicaraguans, Nicaraguan revolutionary and politician serving as President of Nicaragua since 2007. Previously he was leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, first as coordinator of the ...
of Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
for human rights violations, in particular the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez.
In November 2022, Wallace criticised protests
A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one.
Protests can be thought of as acts of coopera ...
in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini
On 16 September 2022, the 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini,; ku, ژینا ئەمینی, Jîna Emînî died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The Guidance Patrol, the religious mor ...
, accusing some protestors of violence and destruction and saying it "would not be tolerated anywhere".
Views on sanctions
Wallace has called out the application of sanctions by the US and EU as being illegal as "they don't comply with the UN Charter". On 5 April 2022 Wallace made a proposal in European Parliament opposing the sanctions on Russia in response to the war in Ukraine. The resolution reaffirmed that the sanctions were illegal stating "Human Rights Council Resolution 27/21 and on human rights and unilateral coercive measures stresses that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law".
Views on Russia
According to ''The Irish Times'', Wallace and Clare Daly's positions caused tensions within The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL
The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL is a left-wing political group of the European Parliament established in 1995. Before January 2021, it was named the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (french: link=no, Gauche unitaire europ ...
. Tensions boiled over when Wallace and Daly tabled amendments in the European Parliament on behalf of the Left group seeking to remove parts of resolutions about Russia in relation to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down by Russian forces on 17 July 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed. Cont ...
by Russian backed militias in Donbas. 298 passengers and crew were killed in the incident, 193 of them Dutch. ''The Irish Times'' said a rift developed between Wallace's and Dutch MEP and fellow GUE/NGL member Anja Hazekamp over Flight MH17.
Wallace has attended protests supporting Lithuanian Algirdas Paleckis
Algirdas Paleckis (born 20 May 1971) is a Lithuanian diplomat, politician, columnist, leader of the political movement The Dawn of Justice. Šiauliai district court convicted Paleckis for spying for Russia in July 2021. The conviction was upheld ...
, a politician convicted of spying on behalf of Russia, and attended court when Paleckis' appeal was being heard. Wallace said of Paleckis "He's accused of being a Russian spy because he expressed an opinion that the State didn't like" and that the conviction was "authoritarianism".
After Russia formally recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, Wallace called for the abolition of NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
; "The people of Europe must campaign for the abolition of NATO, it has nothing good to offer anyone that prefers peace to war". Wallace, with Daly, had previously been one of the 52 MEPs who voted against an EU motion to provide Ukraine with €1.2 billion in loans (compared to 598 MEPs in favour).
In March 2022, Wallace voted against a European Parliament resolution to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
, demand Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
withdraw his troops and send weapons to Ukraine. Wallace later stated that he opposed Russian aggression against Ukraine and that he had opposed the resolution because it had called for sending weapons to Ukraine, stating that "the way forward is not putting in more arms and guns in there, the way forward is negotiation". Russian state media subsequently played clips of him criticizing the EU response to the Russian invasion.
In November 2022, Wallace voted against a resolution to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
Views on China
Wallace spoke in the European Parliament in May 2021 about the EU's hostility to China, saying "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
Fine Gael (, ; English: "Family (or Tribe) of the Irish") is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil ...
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...
(TD) Neale Richmond
Neale Richmond (born 15 March 1983) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister of State since 2023. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Rathdown constituency since the 2020 general election. He previously served as ...
criticized his comments and questioned why Wallace was "lionizing China, Russia, Belarus, Syria".
In July 2021, Wallace claimed reports of one million Chinese citizens of the Uighur ethnicity being detained in concentration camps were "grossly exaggerated". He was critical of the anti-Chinese rhetoric that he said was taking place in the European Parliament and in some Irish media. Wallace made the comments in an interview with Irish radio station Newstalk
Newstalk (formerly NewsTalk 106) is a national independent radio station in Ireland. It is operated by News 106 Limited, a subsidiary of Bauer Media Audio Ireland, and broadcasts under a sound broadcasting contract with the Broadcasting Aut ...
. Previously he had said China "takes better care of its people" than the European Union in an interview with Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times
The ''Global Times'' () is a daily tabloid newspaper under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party's flagship newspaper, the ''People's Daily'', commenting on international issues from a Chinese ultra-nationalistic perspective. The publi ...
, and stated that the Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
"deserved a lot of credits" for "helping so many hundreds of millions in China to move out of poverty."
In October 2021, Wallace released a video on social media in which he dismissed the idea of Uighur mass detention camps, stating that there was "never any solid evidence" of their existence. In the same video, Wallace said that Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
is part of the People's Republic of China and "is recognised as such by the United Nations". Wallace's video was subsequently broadcast on Chinese state media, prompting the government of Taiwan to offer an official rebuke of his claims. A spokesperson for the Taiwanese government in Dublin stated in response to Wallace, 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". Wallace's comments also prompted other Irish politicians to speak out against him. Fianna Fail's John McGuinness TD said he was "flabbergasted" upon first seeing Wallace's video and called upon Wallace to delete it. Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer
Jerry Buttimer (born 18 March 1967) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann since December 2022. He has served as a Senator for the Labour Panel since 2016, and previously from 2007 to 2011. He served ...
called upon Wallace to speak to Taiwanese groups in Ireland and to respect the right of "democratic self-determination
The right of a people to self-determination is a cardinal principle in modern international law (commonly regarded as a ''jus cogens'' rule), binding, as such, on the United Nations as authoritative interpretation of the Charter's norms. It stat ...
".
A report by The Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
in April 2022 described Wallace and Daly's media profile in China, and discussed how since January 2021, Wallace had been featured in more Chinese-language news articles than any other Irish person aside from Daly.
Other incidents
Alan Shatter data breach controversy
During a debate between the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter
Alan Joseph Shatter (born 14 February 1951) is an Irish lawyer, author and former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence from 2011 to 2014. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Sou ...
and Wallace on RTÉ television in May 2013, Shatter divulged that Wallace had been cautioned by gardai for using his phone while driving. Shatter was later found to have broken General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union regulation on data protection and privacy in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). The GDPR is an important component of EU privacy law and of human rights law, in partic ...
laws by revealing personal information about Wallace. Shatter said he obtained the information from then Garda Commissioner
The Garda Commissioner ( ga, Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána) – officially known as the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána – is the head of the Garda Síochána, the national police force of the Republic of Ireland. The Garda Commissione ...
, Martin Callinan
Martin Callinan (born 25 August 1953), is an Irish former Garda, who served as Garda Commissioner from 2010 to 2014.
Callinan is a two-time graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, qualifying in law enforcement management (1 ...
. Callinan and Shatter both lost their jobs soon afterward, Shatter partially for this breach of the law among other controversies. Wallace disagreed with the appointment of Callinan's successor Nóirín O'Sullivan
Nóirín O'Sullivan (born 3 November 1960) is an Irish Garda who has served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Europe at the International Association of Chiefs of Police since October 2017. She previously served as Garda Commissioner from ...
, citing her previous role as deputy commissioner to Callinan.
Revenue settlement
In June 2012, ''The Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
'' reported that Wallace had made a seven-figure settlement with the Revenue Commissioners
The Revenue Commissioners ( ga, Na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim), commonly called Revenue, is the Irish Government agency responsible for customs, excise, taxation and related matters. Though Revenue can trace itself back to predecessors (with the A ...
for under-payment of VAT
A value-added tax (VAT), known in some countries as a goods and services tax (GST), is a type of tax that is assessed incrementally. It is levied on the price of a product or service at each stage of production, distribution, or sale to the en ...
. 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. Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett wrote to the Oireachtas
The Oireachtas (, ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:
*The President of Ireland
*The bicameralism, two houses of the Oireachtas ...
Committee on Members' Interests Chairman, asking him to convene an inquiry.
Hitman comments
When 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. Later the same month, Finian McGrath
Finian McGrath (born 9 April 1953) is an Irish former Independent politician who served as Minister of State for Disability Issues from 2016 to 2020. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 2002 to 2020.
Early and personal life
Born in Tuam, C ...
resigned as chairman of the Dáil technical group when Wallace returned to the loose alliance against the wishes of many of its members.
Mary Mitchell O'Connor comments
Shortly after being elected, while referring to Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Mary Mitchell O'Connor (born 10 June 1959) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Minister of State from 2017 to 2020 and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 2016 to 2017. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the ...
in Dáil Éireann, he said "Miss Piggy has toned it down a bit today". 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.
Financial issues and bankruptcy
In 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
ACC Loan Management Limited, formerly ACCBank plc, was originally a commercial bank in Ireland that focused on agriculture and SME lending, and later became a company that focussed on managing the lending facilities of its existing clients. The ba ...
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
(RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
, "If a bank tries to make me bankrupt it has more to do with 'badness' than economics." On 10 October 2011, the Commercial Court ordered Wallace to repay more than €19 million owed to ACCBank. He said he did not have the money.
On 30 January 2016, it was ruled that Wallace would have to pay €2m to US vulture fund
A vulture fund is a hedge fund, private-equity fund or distressed debt fund, that invests in debt considered to be very weak or in default, known as distressed securities. Investors in the fund profit by buying debt at a discounted price on a ...
Cerberus
In Greek mythology, Cerberus (; grc-gre, Κέρβερος ''Kérberos'' ), often referred to as the hound of Hades, is a multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. He was the offspring of the mo ...
. Wallace was finally declared bankrupt on 19 December 2016 with debts of over €30 million.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, Mick
1955 births
Living people
Alumni of University College Dublin
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