Noonan under fire over emigrant remarks

MICHAEL NOONAN is facing a political “foot in mouth” storm after claiming that “lifestyle choices” were behind Ireland’s emigration crisis.

His Fianna Fáil rival in Limerick, Willie O’Dea, described the comments as “disgusting”.

Despite the economic crash driving 1,000 people a week to flee the country in search of work, the Finance Minister said yesterday that many youngsters “simply want to get off a small island”.