Minister Paschal Donohoe warns 'public campaigning should be left to politicians'

By Elaine Loughlin, Irish Examiner Political Reporter

Sports Minister Paschal Donohoe has criticised cabinet colleague Alan Kelly by claiming public campaigning should be left to politicians.

It comes as Mr Kelly defended FAI boss John Delaney who accompanied him to a number of events in his constituency and encouraged people to vote for him.

The football chief, who is from Tipperary and is good friends with the Minister, attended a number of soccer clubs with Labour’s deputy leader.

He later gave an interview with local radio in which he appeared to encourage people to vote for Mr Kelly.

Responding to criticisms Mr Kelly said: “If John Delaney feels it’s appropriate that people in Tipperary vote for me, I mean, that’s fine by me. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that."

However, Mr Donohoe said that campaigning should be left to those in politics especially as we enter a general election campaign.

He said: “We live in a democracy and people are entitled to express their own private and personal views in relation to what is happening.

“Moving into an election period I think it’s very important that everybody is entitled to express their private views in relation to how people should vote and in relation to their own political views as we enter into that election period that the public campaigning in relation to this should be left to politicians,” he said.