“You are like a donkey at the last race.”
Minister for Transport Shane Ross has apologised for comments he made in the Dáil on Wednesday, in which he referred to Sinn Féin’s transport spokeswoman as a “donkey”.
Ross said he was “sorry for any offence caused by [his] analogy” and that he’d become caught up in the heat of the debate.
In the Dáil on Wednesday, he was responding to criticism by Sinn Féin’s Imedla Munster over Brexit and the green card issue for motorists in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Ross said: “You came in as you normally do, and you are like a donkey at the last race… at the last fence – you upset the whole apple-cart.”
Not sure exactly what Shane Ross was thinking with this… pretty awful… choice of words about SF transport spokesperson Imelda Munster in the Dáil today pic.twitter.com/CYtFrDcjqt
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) March 6, 2019
Leas-Ceann Comhairle Pat the Cope Gallagher then called on Ross to use parliamentary language.
Munster called on the Minister to apologise, saying that “I don’t think that this is an appropriate way for the Minister to conduct himself. What message does this send out to other women who may have an interest in getting involved in politics? I believe that Minister Ross should apologise for his distasteful remarks.”
Fianna Fáil’s Micheal McGrath also called on Ross to apologise earlier on Wednesday.
He said: “We all say stupid things in the heat of the moment but this comment seemed to have been considered. Shane Ross stepped over the line here. He should apologise and be done with it.”
We all say stupid things in the heat of the moment but this comment seemed to have been considered. Shane Ross stepped over the line here. He should apologise and be done with it. https://t.co/awwErA8BHS
— Michael McGrath (@mmcgrathtd) March 6, 2019
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