Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said he had sympathy for Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, who he claimed was always reluctant to travel during his time as tourism minister.
“He was a fine minister, a fine politician, a very hard-working person and I know that John O’Donoghue was one of those ministers who was reluctant to travel,” he said.
“The perception is that he wanted to be away all the time. That is not the case.”
Mr Ahern, who nominated Mr O’Donoghue for the post of Ceann Comhairle, said he was sorry for his party colleague.
“I think most of the things that are down as expenses are things that he hadn’t got control over because they were arranged by other departments, and other things he said sorry about some weeks ago,” he said.
Mr Ahern was speaking in Belfast, where he was attending a book-signing event to mark the publication of his autobiography.
PA