Ahern urged to apologise over attack on TD
The Taoiseach should apologise to Socialist TD Joe Higgins over personal remarks he made about him in the Dáil yesterday, it was claimed today.
Independent TD Finian McGrath today asked Tanaiste Mary Harney during the Order of Business to invite Mr Ahern into the chamber to say sorry.
During heated exchanges on rising house prices, the Taoiseach yesterday referred to Mr Higgins as a nitwit and a failed person with failed policies.
Mr McGrath asked today: “Will the Tanaiste invite the Taoiseach into the Dáil today to apologise to my colleague, Deputy Joe Higgins, for the strong, personalised attack he made in the Chamber yesterday?”
Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O’Hanlon immediately ruled Mr McGrath out of order with his question.
But the TD continued: “Does she accept that any person who has been elected to the Seanad or the Dail is not a failed person?
“This is a serious matter and the Tanaiste should invite the Taoiseach before the House, either today or early next week, to apologise to my colleague, Deputy Joe Higgins.”
Green TD Paul Gogarty then added: “He was so hurt that he did not come into the House today.”
Tommy Broughan of Labour also pointed out that Mr Higgins was a distinguished former member of the Labour Party.
Ms Harney did not respond to the comments.
Yesterday, Mr Higgins was criticising the €300,000 rise in house prices in the Dublin area during the past decade when Mr Ahern hit back: “Does Deputy Higgins wish to drag us back to a time when people had no salaries and no jobs?
“He has a failed ideology and the most hopeless policy pursued by any nitwit.
“He is a failed person who was rejected and whose political philosophy has been rejected.
“He will not pull people back into the failed old policies he dreamed up in south Kerry when he was a young fellow.
“Now go away!”
