Philosophical Wallace looks forward to return to grassroots politics

Ratoath Dáil deputy Mary Wallace, one of seven ministers of state demoted by Taoiseach Brian Cowen last week, declared afterwards that the announcement will now allow her more time to work with and be with the people of Meath East who have elected her. 'I love my job,' she said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. 'The connections I have made over the last number of years across all government departments are invaluable to my work as an elected TD for the people of Meath.' A number of Deputy Wallace"s local supporters, Cllr Nick Killian and Fianna Fail activist James Mullen, highlighted the former junior minister"s achievements on the national airwaves last week. Cllr Killian launched an angry attack on elements of the national media who, he said, have portrayed Ms Wallace in a negative light. Minister Wallace announced on RTE Radio"s 'News at One" that she had been dropped before the Taoiseach made the announcement to the Dail later on Wednesday afternoon. 'Following my conversation earlier today with An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, as of this afternoon, I will no longer be Minister of State at the Department of Health Promotion and Food Safety,' she said. 'I believe the Taoiseach is right to reduce the number of junior ministers and shows leadership from central government in the present climate. I am delighted with the opportunities I have had as a Minister of State. I was five years in the Department of Justice, three years in the Department of Agriculture and a year in the Department of Health,' she added. 'I am particularly interested that the important work in the area of health promotion continues and I have discussed this also with the Taoiseach.' Ms Wallace said the only regret she had is that some of her staff would now lose their jobs, 'and I know this is a very difficult time for them. They, too, have worked very hard with me serving the people of Meath East'. 'I had great opportunities in Government and will now continue with my number one job as a TD which is the job I was elected too by my wonderful supporters throughout the length and breath of Meath East,' she went on. Jimmy Mullen, chairman of the Boyne East Comhairle Cheanntair, created controversy when he stated on RTE"s 'Morning Ireland" that Ms Wallace was entitled to her €50,000 severance package, saying that, if you lose your job, you"re entitled to redundancy. 'Would the people who were let go in Dell decline their severance packages?' he asked. He admitted that Fianna Fail would probably be decimated in the local elections. Mr Mullen"s interview came directly after that of Pat Fitzpatrick, election supervisor for outspoken demoted minister John McGuinness, who said that he would advise Mr McGuinness not to accept his severance. Ratoath county councillor Nick Killian issued a statement saying that it is only in time to come that the people of that part of County Meath will realise and appreciate that the delivery of educational provision in south-east Meath, and in particular in her own village of Ratoath, was due to the hard work, commitment and dedication of Ms Wallace. Describing himself as her friend and political colleague, Cllr Killian said: 'Being a minister of state for nine years definitely opened doors that otherwise would have remained closed when dealing with senior civil servants when Mary went about advancing the cause of disability, education, sports grants, agriculture, and lately obesity and tobacco control. 'I had the pleasure of working with her in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for five years as her PA and saw her working and dealing with the most complex of issues, and reducing pages of civil service speak to a mere page, with her sharp intellect and her great strength of getting to the core of perceived difficulties in a short period of time.' Cllr Killian said that Ms Wallace can look back with great pride on her years as a minister of state, despite the negative media representation in the national 'Dublin 4" type media of the political pundits who can see no further than the press gallery in the Dail chamber. He said: 'Mary Wallace is of the people, with no airs or pretences. I know that her many friends and supporters, and indeed constituents of Meath East, look forward to many more years of her political life, where she can get back to grassroots politics without been taken away by ministerial business.'