John Halligan slams Finian McGrath’s comments as unrepresentative of Alliance

Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has been left isolated by an Independent Alliance colleague after remarks that have sparked an unprecedented public row and split among the government grouping.

Junior jobs minister John Halligan has slammed some of Mr McGrath’s comments about the alliance and other political matters as “laughable”, “completely untrue” and even “ridiculous”.

Mr McGrath earlier this week called for an Independent to run for the presidency, saying it would be “lazy politics” to allow Michael D Higgins a second term without a contest.