Talk to me first, Kenny tells ministers

A clearly annoyed Taoiseach delivered a sharp message to his Coalition partners and his own ministers, telling them to talk to him first before going public with issues.

Mr Kenny said Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan was in charge of the day-to-day running of the force and “deserves absolute respect”. He again refused to take issue with the commissioner’s reference to whistleblowers as “disgusting”, saying the relationship between Taoiseach and Commissioner “has to be completely professional”.

The Taoiseach was responding to Labour leader, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore after he supported fellow Labour ministers Joan Burton and Pat Rabbitte, who said it would be helpful if Mr Callinan withdrew his remark to the Public Accounts Committee.