Finian McGrath apologises again for ‘major mistake’

Minister of State for Disability Issues Finian McGrath has reiterated his apology for comments he withdrew about ‘political policing’ just hours after he defended them and called for the Garda Commissioner to address the issue.

In his first public appearance since his original remarks were quoted in the Sunday Independent, in which he said the implementation of controversial drink-driving laws by gardaí had been “really over the top” and suggested there was an “agenda” within the force to damage the Government.

He claimed to have received complaints about gardaí breathalysing parents picking up their children from school and on the way to Mass on Sunday mornings.

Speaking on Tuesday morning at an event to mark World Autism Day, Mr McGrath said: “It was a major mistake by me. I apologise to the drink-driving road crash victims. I have issued an apology. Of course I have apologised to the gardaí as well. It was an error in a very broad ranging interview. I fully accept responsibility.

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“I apologise wholeheartedly and I also want to reassure the families that I supported the legislation and I defended the minister responsible at the time against a lot of critics.”

Asked whether he should heed calls for his resignation, Mr McGrath said: “The only people I listen to and I listen to very very carefully, I listen to the people I caused hurt to.

“And I accept responsibility, I made a mistake and I apologise. The question of resignation, that’s a matter for the Taoiseach. From my point of view, I’ve apologised, I’ve been up front, I made a mistake in the interview, and that’s exactly it, that’s the end of it.”

Asked if he still believed the people who brought the allegations to his intention in the first place, Mr McGrath said: “People are entitled to make their views known and that’s their views but I’m not going to make any more comment. thanks very much.”

Meanwhile, Mr McGrath said the Government would make progress on its promised action plan on autism “in a matter of weeks”. He was attend a breakfast reception hosted by the autism advocacy group AsIAm in Blackhall Place in Dublin.

“We have a plan, we have a strategy, we are prepared to put money into the services and the resources”.

It is understood that at Cabinet this morning a decision was taken to examine the action plan at the next meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on social policy and public services.

It is also expected that the Government will not oppose Sinn Fein’s private members bill calling for an autism strategy, which will be debated by the Dáil this evening. However, sources said that the Government will be mindful of creating inequity in how different disabilities are treated by approving a specific strategy for autism, and the overriding approach will remain its National Inclusion Strategy.

Speaking at the same event, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald called on all parties to support the private members’ bill this evening. “We thought it appropriate on World Autism Day for us to collectively as a Dáil produce a strategy and a plan for every person who has autism to ensure they have access to the services and opportunities that others might take for granted”.

“We need action now,” she said. “It’s not enough on World Autism Day to say nice things, we as political leaders need to lead from the front and today is the day to start that.”