Barry Cowen sacking about basic failure to be held to account by the Dáil, says Taoiseach

Mr Martin rejected assertions that Fianna Fáil has an identity problem, saying his party colleagues are “in touch” with the needs of the people

Micheál Martin (right) rejected the charge that he failed to allow due process to occur in Barry Cowen's (left) case, saying ministers have to be responsible to the Dáil. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Barry Cowen’s sacking as Agriculture Minister was about his failure to account for his actions over his drink-driving incident in the Dáil and not the incident itself, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

It was reported at the weekend that a Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission report has found Mr Cowen did not seek to avoid a Garda checkpoint 2016. Mr Martin said his decision to remove Mr Cowen from Cabinet was about a basic failure to be held to account by the Dáil.