Lone parent remark sparks outrage

FORMER Bank of Ireland chief executive Mike Soden has stood over remarks in which he suggested society should not have to carry the burden of lone parents “who choose that lifestyle”.

The remarks have outraged anti-poverty campaigners.

Mr Soden made the remarks on TV3’s Tonight with Vincent Browne on Wednesday night while defending the Government’s NAMA plan to buy €54 billion of toxic loans from the banks. Speaking to the Irish Examiner yesterday Mr Soden said that if people choose the single parent family life they have to be responsible for themselves and not depend on the state. He added that he found it “aggravating” that single mothers who had “not just one, but two or three children” expected State support.

“If that offends people I’m sorry but I will not retract,” the former bank chief said.

Labour TD Roisín Shortall suggested the remarks revealed how Mr Soden and his friends really are living in a different world.

“While he is defending his friends in the banks who are being bailed out with billions he shows complete disregard for any sort of welfare system. He encapsulates the greedy and selfish attitude which has brought our society to its present state.”

Dolphin House flats complex regeneration worker Rory Hearne said it was a disgrace that Mr Soden had singled out one of the most vulnerable groups in Irish society for criticism. “Lone parent’s allowance does not even cover the basic costs of life yet this should be cut while banks and developers are handed billions,” he said. The 60-year-old left his job as chief executive of Bank of Ireland in 2004 after he was found to have accessed adult websites from his work computer. He received a €2.4 million redundancy payment.