Hanafin: People ‘insulted’ by Cowen interview

PEOPLE felt “insulted” by the Taoiseach’s controversial radio performance, according to Minister Mary Hanafin, who became the second cabinet member to give a veiled criticism of Brian Cowen over the incident.

The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the Taoiseach’s apology for the incident was “the right thing to do” because “what we have got over the two days has been that people had felt insulted by it and I know that certainly he, nor any of us, would want to insult any listener or any member of the Irish public.”

She said the Taoiseach’s apology should mark the end of the matter but that: “There’s no doubt it was a blow and there’s no doubt that yesterday people felt hurt and sore by it and the public reaction was coming through to all of us as public representatives.”