Mcgrath’s blast at ministers in drink-drive row
Finian ‘thrown under bus’ in law comments storm
I thought the reaction afterwards was over the top from all sectors
FINIAN MCGRATH RTE YESTERDAY
MINISTER Finian Mcgrath claims he was “thrown under the bus” by Cabinet colleagues over ill-judged remarks on new drink-drive laws.
The Independent Alliance TD said while he regretted his comments and had apologised, he felt the reaction from some was “over the top”.
Speaking to Brendan O’connor on RTE Radio yesterday, the Disabilities Minister felt he was ganged up on, singling out minister Patrick O’donovan in particular.
The North Dublin TD said: “I thought the reaction afterwards was a bit over the top... from all sectors of the political system.
“I understand totally that Charlie... I know Charlie very well in relation to his portfolio [which] is the gardai and justice.
“He takes responsibility but when other ministers jump in and throw me under the bus, I didn’t like that at all.”
He said while Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan was doing his job there was no need for Patrick O’donovan TD to row in.
Last month, Mr Mcgrath caused public outcry when he claimed gardai had become politicised and were carrying out unnecessary breath tests because they opposed new drinkdrive laws.
Revisiting the controversy yesterday, he reiterated his support for the new laws and admitted he sometimes puts his foot in his mouth.
Mr Mcgrath said he was an Independent TD and sometimes he lets his guard down and the “old Finian Mcgrath” comes out.
He added he had to learn a new way of raising concerns from constituents and this was now “done internally”.
And he had spoken in person to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris apologising for the remarks.
He said Mr Harris accepted his apology and told him: “We all make mistakes.”