Coveney attacks RTÉ over Ahern soccer interview

NOT a ball has been kicked yet but already Fine Gael have cried foul on RTÉ’s coverage of the Republic of Ireland soccer boss.

The party’s communications spokesman, Simon Coveney, had a Dunphy-esque outburst after tuning in to the national broadcaster at teatime to find it had secured an interview with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern — and asked him about nothing else except Giovanni Trapattoni.

“What on earth were RTÉ at this evening?” demanded Mr Coveney. “I find it absolutely astonishing that, in the week that has seen an unprecedented High Court challenge by the Taoiseach that will frustrate and delay the work of the Mahon Tribunal, RTÉ chose to provide seven minutes of soft focus chat about the appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni.”

He said the interview, on RTÉ radio’s Drivetime programme, sounded like “raw material for a Gift Grub sketch”.

“Where was the normal grilling that any senior politician receives from any of RTÉ’s flagship news programmes when a serious political issues emerges?

“Rather than challenge the Taoiseach to explain his extraordinary and fantastical stories regarding his finances, tax status and dealings with the tribunal, RTÉ ‘grilled’ the Taoiseach on whether or not he thought Ireland might be too defensive under Trapattoni and if he had already booked his tickets for South Africa?”

In fact, RTÉ also managed to secure another five minutes with Bertie Ahern on the subject as he arrived at the launch of a book by economist Paul Sweeney at the Royal Irish Academy.

This time, the interrogation was carried out to camera for broadcast on television, but again the Taoiseach swept through the questions like George Best through a blindfolded defence.

An “at a loss” Coveney couldn’t resist putting the boot in: “While the Taoiseach is renowned or his blanket defence of his dodgy finances and has been known to attend the odd match in Manchester with casino promoters, this hardly qualifies him as an expert soccer pundit.”