Kenny brushes off controversy over ‘whingers’ remark

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted he has no regrets about calling some of his constituents “All-Ireland champions” at complaining.

Mr Kenny has been asked to apologise for his comments at a rally in Co Mayo where he claimed “whingers” were complaining there was nothing good happening.

Asked yesterday if he regretted the comments, Mr Kenny said: “No, I don’t. Some of them wouldn’t know sunshine if they saw it.”

The Taoiseach has been heavily criticised for the comments at the rally for supporters in Co Mayo on Saturday.

He had told the crowd: “God knows we have some All-Ireland champions here in Castlebar. I don’t mean Castlebar Mitchells [GAA club], I mean the whingers that I hear every week saying there’s nothing happening.

“Well, I want to assure them that the future is very bright. All we have to do is maintain the progress in terms of our economy. We’ll look after our hospitals, we’ll look after our schools, we’ll look after our infrastructure. We’ll look after the people who create jobs and business and give them that opportunity to grow in the time ahead.”

Out of touch

Asked what he meant by “whingers”, Mr Kenny said: “Locals – nothing to with national politics at all. Obviously, you get this all the time but sometimes I find that people find it very difficult to see any good anywhere, anytime.”

Fianna Fáil candidate for Mayo Lisa Chambers called for an immediate apology from Mr Kenny. She said the comments were a clear indication of just how out of touch and disconnected the Taoiseach had become.

Ms Chambers said: "The arrogance that has been the hallmark of Fine Gael in Government and their national campaign is now emerging locally and is a sign of the pressure the Taoiseach is beginning to feel.

“The Taoiseach must apologise to the people of Castlebar for his insensitive and out-of-touch remarks.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said Mr Kenny's comments showed the "sheer arrogance of this Government".

The Taoiseach addressed a meeting of Fine Gael supporters in Co Dublin yesterday and urged voters not to let Fianna Fáil back into Government. He said the party had had 14 years in government and had “wrecked the house”.

He said: “They are back in the doors now, saying, ‘We are clean again, we have been absolved again, give us a chance.’ Well, don’t give them the chance again because they have got to earn it and you will not earn it by false figures and you won’t earn it by hypocrisy.”

“We’ve taken this country out of an economic cesspit that we inherited from Fianna Fáil. After 14 years of government, they blew everything that we had.”

“We want this recovery to come home, to come into our houses so our people can feel it. That is the challenge,” the Taoiseach said.