TD’s dole comment is moronic, says colleague

Comments by a junior minister that young people were being “handed” the dole and spending it on drink have been described as “moronic” by a party colleague.

Waterford TD John Deasy accused Shane McEntee, the junior agriculture minister, of “stigmatising” young people who desperately wanted to work but in most cases were being forced to emigrate.

Mr Deasy told the Irish Examiner he had seen thousands of young people emigrate and could now hold clinics in Perth, Australia, because so many of his constituents lived there.