Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that the “postergate” controversy that engulfed him in January has not made him reconsider his career in politics.
He insisted that he will run in the next general election and does not have his eye on any other job.
The Fine Gael TD for Dublin Central earlier this year when it emerged that businessman Michael Stone had paid several workers to hang posters in the general elections in both 2016 and 2020. Several vans were also used.
READ MORE: Paschal Donohoe's poster pal's companies got €8.7m in Government payments over six years
This was not declared by Minister Donohoe on his election returns as he insisted that he was not aware that the work had been carried out.
An investigation by political watchdog the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) later dropped an investigation into the incident.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Donohoe dismissed rumours that he has an eye on a job elsewhere.
He insisted that he will run in the next general election and will see out his full term if he is reelected.
Minister Donohoe said that he “really regretted” the postergate controversy but said that it has not run him off politics.
He said: “Even at the time of controversy. I made the case in acknowledging that I made a mistake.
“But I always said there was a principle of proportionality here. At the end of the day, it was about the cost of putting up posters and I acted to rectify that mistake.
“I'm very, very grateful that act has been recognized by SIPO and they have decided that no further action will be in the public interest.
“No, it hasn't [put me off politics]. I'm very lucky to do what I do. I have a lot of energy and appetite to continue to do this and the time ahead.
“Of course, the period during January was difficult. I never dreamed I'd be in a position where I would deal with questions regarding my own integrity and the cost of an election that at that point was over six years ago.
“But I made a mistake. I owned up to it, I fixed it.
“I want to put it behind me, continue, of course, to adhere to the rules, that goes without saying, and not make the same mistake again.”
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