Silence over Regina dole remark gaffe
Were Minister’s welfare comments scripted? Nobody can say
REGINA DOHERTY is refusing to say if her embarrassing mistake over the correct levels of dole payments was scripted – or if it was an off-the-cuff blunder.
Speaking to the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed on Wednesday, the Social Protection Minister said: ‘Jaysus, I couldn’t live on €198 a week.’ Welfare payments are €193 per week. Department of Social Protection officials refused to release the minister’s speech and did not answer direct questions about whether Ms Doherty was speaking off the top of her head or if the controversial comments were scripted.
Yesterday, the Irish Mail on Sunday called the minister seven times at hourly intervals between 10.30am and 5.30pm, except at 1.30pm to allow Ms Doherty time for lunch. She was texted twice.
On Friday the MoS called her three times. None of the calls or texts was answered. On Thursday and Friday, the MoS contacted her department on a number of occasions, asking if the speech was scripted. Officials would not hand over the speech. A statement read: ‘It is not possible to fulfil your request on this occasion. Notices were issued to the media in advance [of the event].’ In total, the MoS tried to contact Ms Doherty and her office 18 times over three days.
Asked if Ms Doherty had been on script, INOU spokeswoman Bríd O’Brien said: ‘She had a speech, but she did both.’
Fr Seán Healy, of Social Justice Ireland, said: ‘I would have thought every politician would know the welfare rate, it is important if they are in the Cabinet.’