Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that Damien English did the “right thing” by resigning his position over his failure to declare his property interests properly.
However, he said he was “not vindictive” and would not call for the Fine Gael TD to resign his Dáil seat over the controversy.
Mr English resigned as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise over his failure to declare ownership of a property when applying for planning permission for another Meath home.
READ MORE: Fine Gael TD Damien English resigns over failure to declare property ownership
Following the publication of a story by online outlet The Ditch, the Meath West TD said that he had reviewed documentation in relation to a planning application made 14 years ago.
Speaking in Belfast on Thursday, Mr Martin said that Taoiseach called him after midnight to say Mr English had resigned.
The Tánaiste said that he was correct to stand down.
He said: “He took the right decision in light of the issue that had arisen, albeit 14 years ago.
“He made the decision himself and came to the Taoiseach and indicated the situation.
“I think it's very difficult personally for him. I think he's been a good minister and he’s been a good parliamentarian. I've known him for quite a number of years.
“He engages, he is very active and I think it's very difficult for him and his family. But I think he made the right decision in the wider sense, given what transpired.”
Mr Martin said that politicians check their declarations regularly and there is an “obligation” for them to declare their interests.
The Tánaiste also denied that the Government has an issue with transparency given that this is the second minister to resign in less than six months over a failure to declare property interests. Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy resigned in August during a similar controversy.
Mr Martin told the Irish Mirror: “This is an issue that happened 14 years ago. Damien English wasn’t a Government TD. It was long before he was in this Government.
“He has resigned as a result of a decision that he took back then seeking planning permission for a house that he was [building] for his family. That's the issue.
“He felt that, correctly I think, that was not up to the standards required. He has resigned as a result of that.
“It’s regrettable in terms of that that happened in the first instance.”
When asked if he should lose his Dáil seat, the Tánaiste said that he was “not as vindictive as that” and “we need perspective in life”.
Also speaking in Belfast on Thursday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that a new Government was required in Dublin.
She said Mr English made the “right decision” by resigning.
“It was a very, very serious omission on his behalf. It's strange to reflect that this resignation almost has an echo of the last Government when Micheál Martin made his appointments and resignations that happened at that time.”
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