Minister dallies at Ascot as party’s turfed out
Mr Walsh, an avid horse racing fan, spent part of Tuesday at the races, according to eye witnesses.
But his department officials could not say whether he also went to the races the following day.
Despite persistent questions about his movements on Wednesday, the press office was unable to confirm that he went to Ascot that day.
Two different press aides were unable, it appears, to get in touch with either the Minister or his private secretary for nearly 30 hours, from the time the Irish Examiner first put the question to them early on Wednesday afternoon to yesterday evening.
However, Tamarisk Doyle, of Horse Racing Ireland, who returned from Ascot yesterday, confirmed the Minister was there on Tuesday. She didn’t see him on Wednesday.
“He was there on Tuesday. He might have been there yesterday (Wednesday) but he was definitely there on Tuesday. He’s a big racing fan,” said Ms Doyle.
His press office said he travelled to Britain on Tuesday, though it was claimed that he went in the evening.
It was the same evening that the parliamentary party gathered to discuss the fall out from the local and European elections. There was heated debate during the closed door meeting.
According to his diary, Mr Walsh had only one engagement on Wednesday, a Bord Bia promotional visit plugging Irish beef to the executives from the Somerfield chain store group. That was in the morning.
Asked repeatedly whether he then went on to Ascot, his senior press officer said Minister Walsh did the beef promotion and was on his way back that afternoon or evening (Wednesday).
Asked to check whether he attended Royal Ascot, his press officer said; “He’s done the beef promotion and he’s on his way back this afternoon or evening.”
The office could not account for all the Minister’s movements, he added.
After a couple more calls, the senior press officer said he would try and check with the Minister’s private secretary to find out whether he did actually attend Royal Ascot. He was unable to get in touch with the private secretary or the Minister on Wednesday afternoon or yesterday.
However, the press office, in the early afternoon, managed to issue a statement in relation to Minister Walsh opening a food conference in Cork yesterday.
By way of explaining why he was unable to get in touch with either person yesterday, his press aide said Mr Walsh was at an engagement in UCD and then went to Máirín Lynch’s mass in Cork. The minister was also due to attend a wedding, he added.
Up to late yesterday evening, the press office was still unable to answer whether Mr Walsh attended Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
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