Hanafin anger over Dáil ‘trap’

AN extraordinary war of words erupted between Mary Hanafin and Fine Gael last night as the Education Minister accused opponents of laying a Dáil trap for her.

Under fire over her department’s treatment of pupils with autism, Ms Hanafin claimed FG had deliberately timed an Oireachtas debate on the issue while she was out of the country to make her look bad.

FG education spokesperson Brian Hayes denied the charge and branded the minister a “tantrum thrower” and “mud-slinger”.