Hogan calls for Martin to withraw ‘outrageous’ election boundary accusations

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has called on Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to withdraw “outrageous” accusations that he gerrymandered local election boundaries to maximise the electoral chances of Fine Gael and Labour.

He said the remarks represented “gutter politics” and were ironic coming from “the leader of the most corrupt party in the history of the State”.

Mr Martin made the comments at his party’s ard fheis, where he said the boundary changes — ordered by Mr Hogan but independently devised — were an attempt to “try and save as many of their seats as possible”.

He told delegates: “The only thing Phil Hogan has been micro-managing in the Department of the Environment is his attempt to maximise Fine Gael and Labour seats in May.

“It is the biggest attempt to manipulate election boundaries in the 35 years since Fianna Fáil introduced independent boundary commissions.”

In a statement yesterday, Mr Hogan said the FF leader should withdraw his comments and apologise to the independent committee whom he said gave freely of their time in preparing the report.

“I am well used to political footballs but this one is nasty and it is a slur on the integrity of the members of the committee. This is what gets politics a bad name,” he said.

The minister challenged Fianna Fáil to prove how the report favours the Coalition. “The people are not fools and they will see this for what it is — Fianna Fáil reverting to gutter politics to which they are well accustomed. I am calling on Deputy Martin to withdraw his outrageous comment.”