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.