Paul Hosford: Fianna Fáil floods the airwaves to give air of calm control

By lunchtime, children's minister Norma Foley, Seán Fleming, Peter 'Chap' Cleere, and Pádraig O'Sullivan had also answered the call from RTÉ as the party's membership dealt with the fallout in different ways

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin speaking during the launch of his now brief presidential election campaign at the Exo Building in Dublin on September 28. File Picture: Damien Eagers/PA

In the teeth of a controversy, it is important to remain calm.

Publicly, you want to put on the air of calm control. To seem unflappable. Ready to answer the questions. Don't. Panic.