Lenihan apologises for 'kebabs' comment

Minister of State Conor Lenihan has apologised for a remark he made to Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins that he should "stick with the kebabs", during a Dáil row on the future of Aer Lingus and the second terminal at Dublin airport.

Mr Lenihan, who is Minister of State for Overseas Development, said he regretted the remark and apologised if any offence was taken. Mr Higgins said it referred to his representation of Turkish workers employed by the construction company Gama.

The Minister made his comment during leaders' questions when Mr Higgins had castigated Fianna Fáil backbenchers for what he called the "silence of the lambs".

Mr Higgins said that in the past "when cuts in Aer Lingus or privatisation was mooted we hear shrill cries, perhaps strangled cries would be more accurate, from the Government backbenches. This time, when real opposition is needed, when they need to stand up and be counted, we have the silence of the lambs."

Mr Lenihan retorted that "you should stick with the kebabs".

The Socialist Party TD said that "the snide comment from behind the Taoiseach that I should stick with the kebabs, referring to my fights against the exploitation of Gama workers, ill behoves the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs who has responsibility for overseas development".

Just under two hours later Mr Lenihan returned to the Dáil to make a brief personal statement on the issue and apologise. He said: "I made remarks that I now regret having made. I regret the remarks I made. I apologise sincerely if any offence was taken from the remarks I made. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am apologising to the House as early as possible, given the interpretation that may be put on the remarks."

Mr Higgins first made allegations against the construction company in the Dáil three months ago when he accused Gama of operating a modern form of "bonded labour" by systematically paying less than €3 an hour to its Turkish employees, who worked up to 80 hours a week.

The company's State contracts include the completed Ballincollig bypass and the Ennis bypass. It was also a subcontractor on the ESB plant in Lanseboro, Co Longford.