'It's hard to be right in politics' says Brendan Howlin

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has defended Junior Minister Dara Murphy for using a garda car to travel from Cork to Dublin Airport - saying it is "hard to be right" in politics.

The EU Affairs Minister has apologised for calling for garda assistance, after his car broke down at Michelstown at 3.30am in the morning.

Dara Murphy

He says it was necessary to get to a meeting in Brussels - but the Opposition said it was a misuse of garda resources.

Despite the controversy, Deputy Murphy was selected to run as Fine Gael’s sole candidate in Cork North Central constituency at a close-run selection convention last night.

I understand Minister Dara Murphy got the nod over Sen Colm Burke in #Cork North Central by just 16 votes. 188 to 172.

— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) September 28, 2015

Minister Brendan Howlin defending his Coalition colleague, saying: "I know that if he claimed the taxi fare of €350 you'd be asking me about that.

"Had he not attended the European Council meeting dealing with refugees, you’d be asking me about that.

"So in politics, it's hard to be right."

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