Barry Cowen: Sacking 'a hard price to pay' for a 'lapse of judgement'

Barry Cowen said he was penalised for the drink-driving offence there and then but added he has now "paid a dear price" with his sacking for what was a "stupid, unfortunate mistake". File photo

Former Agriculture Minister, Barry Cowen, has said he has "paid a dear price" for his drink-driving charge in 2016.

Mr Cowen told Liam Dumpleton on his Midlands 103 show "Saturday View" that his sacking as Minister for Agriculture "is a hard price to pay" for my "lapse of judgement".

It comes after the Fianna Fáil TD was sacked after just 18 days in the office by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Mr Martin sensationally dismissed Mr Cowen on Tuesday after he failed to resign when requested to do so.

The Laois-Offaly TD had been asked by the Taoiseach to present himself for questions before the Dáil about the circumstances of his drink-driving charge in 2016 and refused to do so.

Fianna Fáil sources say that Mr Martin asked Mr Cowen to resign if he was not prepared to fully explain to fellow TDs what had happened, which Mr Cowen refused to do, forcing the Fianna Fáil leader to sack Mr Cowen from his ministerial role.

This morning, Mr Cowen said he was penalised for the offence there and then.

He said "I'm not a victim, it was the consequences of an unfortunate mistake that I've paid a dear price for. 

There are some outstanding issues by which I have to seek rectification and I'll do that, but ultimately it's a hard price to pay for such an event.

"I've apologised on many occasions and I do so again to my constituents and to the general public for that lapse of judgement, lack of judgement, but having said that I'm in public life, I'm a representative. 

"You put yourself out there, you have to accept and appreciate tthe way you are held to account and that's only right and proper and I do accept that."

The ex-Minister said neither himself nor Mr Martin are bigger than the party.

He said: "This party has come through bigger events than this, this party has been good to me, good to my community, good to my country, and it's bigger than me and it's bigger than Micheál Martin or anyone else.

"Politics can, of course, be a cruel game but you pick yourself up and you dust yourself down. You have to show leadership, you have to show resilience."

He also revealed that he has not spoken to the Taoiseach since his removal from office and the 52-year-old said he won't be quitting the party.

"The blow I've had, as difficult as it is, it's miniature to many of the difficulties other people have.

"I'll come again, Fianna Fáil will come again, and we'll do our best and we'll abide by the wishes of the people which is ultimately what the democratic process is all about.

"We have our health, it's our wealth, and we'll get over these obstacles, we'll get over these setbacks and we'll put things into perspective and be thankful for what we have.

"I had a good job before I became a minister, I still have a good job after being a minister, and who knows, I might be again.

Mr Cowen said he was hoping to have the record rectified.

He said: "There is the potential for me to seek rectification of this issue and there are processes that I have engaged in. There is legislation in place that offers citizens opportunities to pursue rectification, I am engaging in that and I couldn't engage in a process in the Dáil that would undermine or prejudice those opportunities that I have."