Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has been slated after a car crash interview on Today with Claire Byrne in which he defended his eviction ban ending/sweets for children comparison, but insisted that it was not his intention to offend people.
This week the TD came under heavy criticism for an analogy he used while speaking prior to the Labour vote of no confidence, a vote in which the Government came out on top.
While speaking in the Dáil, the Laois–Offaly representative made comments comparing how extending the eviction ban was akin to giving free sweets to children, a remark that has garnered significant flak all around.
READ MORE: Report into Barry Cowen drink driving leak 'imminent' as Taoiseach says door open for Cabinet return
However, on Thursday the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine joined Claire Byrne, who is a strong contender to be the next Late Late Show host, on her radio show in an interview that has now been labelled a "car crash" by listeners.
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, Cowen said: "What I said was just an analogy in order to get the message across that short-term solutions don't always work in the long term. I'm sorry if people were offended by what I said, it certainly wasn't my intention."
Following the interview, the host posted on the Twitter page for Today with Claire Byrne: "Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has defended his comparison between extending the eviction ban and 'making sweets free' for children.
"He tells Today with Claire Byrne: ‘I’m sorry if people were offended by what I said, that wasn’t my intention… sure what more do you want me to say?’"
Listeners were fuming with the TD’s response, with many flocking to the comments on the post to share their distaste with Barry’s apology.
One Twitter user commented: "Car crash interview badly advised to go he’s made it worse."
While another added: “'I’m sorry if people were offended by what I said...' The arrogance of that man."
The sentiment seemed to be shared across the board with another posting: "'I am sorry if people were offended' is not an apology. It is an 'eff you' to people being evicted. He wrote and delivered that line."
As with many other comments, one person simply replied with Barry’s apology, posting: "I’m sorry if he is offended by what I said, that wasn’t my intention… sure what more do you want me to say?"
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