*Donna McGettigan TD (SF). Photograph: Joe Buckley
A CONNOLLY WOMAN who took a case to the Workplace Relations Commission and won over an unfair dismissal by former TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) has joined the staff of newly elected Clare TD, Donna McGettigan (SF).
Last August, Wynne was ordered to pay €11,500 to Fiona Smyth who was deemed to be unfairly dismissed. Fiona worked for Wynne following her election as a Sinn Féin TD in February 2020, Violet-Anne left the party in February 2022 and saw her vote collapse in November’s General Election as she lost her seat.
Ms Smyth’s dismissal arose after she was called to a performance review with Deputy Wynne. Before the meeting, Ms Smyth requested more clarity and had asked that she be allowed have a trade union representative present. However, on foot of these requests Ms Smyth was dismissed. In its decision, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that Deputy Wynne should pay her former employee, Ms Smyth compensation in the sum of €11,500 in redress for her dismissal.
In December, Wynne appeared before Ennis District Court where she told Judge Alec Gabbett that it is her intention to pay the €11,500 but that her “financial circumstances” have prevented her from doing so to date.
As she prepares to move into a constituency office in Shannon Town Centre, Deputy McGettigan has confirmed to The Clare Echo that Fiona will be part of her team as a secretarial assistant.
Both Finbarr MacGabhann and Áine Rynne will be job-sharing in the role of McGettigan’s parliamentary assistant. Finbarr a native of Dublin is currently Sinn Féin’s membership officer in Clare and has held multiple roles with the party at a county and provincial level. Finbarr has been based in Ennis for several years he is one of the central figures with the Clare branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and has organised weekly rallies and an annual event in the county town amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine.
Miltown Malbay artist Áine has participated in the Hush Hush group exhibition at the Mountshannon Arts Festival in aid of Clare Haven and Every Child Ireland in November, 2021 at Scariff Library Gallery. She served as spokesperson of the group Miltown Malbay Welcome which worked with Direct Provision residents staying at The Central Hostel and was among the individuals to call for a closure of the facility.
Deputy McGettigan told The Clare Echo, “I am looking forward to working with the office team who have experience and are also looking forward to working with the people of Clare, we will work together to help with issues and to listen as well as advise”.
