Tánaiste defends party colleague’s radio walkout
Ann Phelan, who was 40 minutes late for the radio debate and then walked out mid-way through, yesterday claimed she was “tired” and “hungry” and as a result her tolerance levels were lowered.
It comes as the latest Red C opinion poll for Paddy Power put Labour at just 7%.
However, Joan Burton warned that polls can be inaccurate and that we could be facing into a second election if Independents are needed to prop up a government.
She added that a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition would be a “ very conservative” government that would not implement positive social change or deliver a referendum on repealing the Eight Amendment.
Party colleague Brendan Howlin said such a “marriage of convenience” would mean a second election this year.
“It could well be that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael join forces and become the next government,” he said. “The odds of having another election within 12 months of that would be very very high indeed.”
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In the middle of a fractious debate with the other 14 election candidates on KCLR radio on Monday night Ms Phelan walked out after being interrupted.
“I’m fed up with the whole bloody lot of you,” she said before leaving.
Ms Burton, who described her as a “great local deputy”, backed Ms Phelan yesterday stating that she already “kissed and made up” with the local station.
“I have seen these people’s debates and I would say at times from the ones I have seen they can be quite trying,” Ms Burton said.
Explaining the walk-out, the junior minister for rural affairs said: “Normally my tolerance levels are very high but last night I was tired, I was hungry, and I was extremely frustrated.”
Ms Phelan said there were huge levels of negativity and that 15 people involved in a debate made it chaotic.
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She said everyone loses their temper and perhaps it was just “one of those days”.
Ms Burton yesterday admitted that one of the options now could be a Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil government.
But she warned: “I think that would be a very conservative government...”
Speaking at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery in Dublin Ms Burton said while Independents are doing well in the polls they would have a “shopping trolley” of demands going into any potential government coalition.
“I don’t think people want that,” she said.
“But if we have a government that is essentially relying on Independents, all with a long tally list of demands it will mean that precious resources will have to be devoted to very local demands. I don’t think a government like that will last very long.”
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