Labour Party Chairman and Galway deputy Colm Keaveney has told today's Irish Times that his wife Deirdre is temporarily filling in as his parliamentary assistant and that the post will be advertised in the near future. 

In a statement Deputy Keaveney said that the position will be advertised in due course but starting someone new at the beginning of a very busy Dail session was not judged by me to be prudent. 

A report that Deirdre Keaveney had been appointed to the post without competition at a salary of €52,000 and that Ballinasloe based Cllr Johnny Walsh was let go from the job this month appeared in yesterday's Daily Mail. 

The TD said the salary was overstated by a wide margin and that Cllr Walsh had left the position by mutual consent at the end of August.