Cowen to address Dail over ban for drink-driving
Taoiseach ‘believes remorse is genuine’
TAOISEACH Micheal Martin has said he believes Barry Cowen’s remorse over drink-driving home from a football game is genuine.
The newly-appointed Agriculture Minister acknowledged it was a serious lapse of judgment.
Mr Cowen said he was embarrassed after it emerged last week he was barred from getting behind the wheel for three months in 2016.
He was on a provisional driving licence when stopped at a checkpoint and breathalysed on his way home to Co Offaly after an All-ireland football final in Dublin. Mr Cowen is expected to make a statement in the Dail this evening addressing the controversy around the offence.
Speaking at a post-cabinet briefing yesterday, Mr Martin told how Mr Cowen had expressed his regret and said his remorse “is genuine”.
He added: “He has articulated his profound regret, sorrow and shame at what transpired four years ago.
“I became aware of this on Friday. It is deeply, deeply regrettable and should not have happened.
“Historically, people have availed of the temporary
Helen Mcentee licence regime in Ireland – I’m not excusing it but I believe his remorse is genuine and he will be making a statement to the Dail.”
Earlier, Justice Minister Helen Mcentee said what Mr Cowen did was “wrong” but that she had accepted his apology.
Ms Mcentee, who was visiting Slane Garda station in Co Meath where she held a meeting with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, said the incident “shouldn’t have happened”.
She added Government focus should be on road victims and their families.
Ms Mcentee said: “I think the minister has acknowledged what he did was wrong and I think what’s important at the time is that the law was applied.”
Mr Cowen said over the weekend: “Maybe I should have stood up in the Dail and led from the front and acknowledged my stupid mistake.
“I was not trying to keep it secret, I was trying to get on with my job.”
Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin insisted the issue was “very, very serious”.
He added: “I think a statement to the Dail is the right thing to do and we need to listen very carefully and judge it by its content.”
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