Byrne's Eurosceptic remarks win approval of some FF TDs

GAY BYRNE’S Eurosceptic stance would resonate with voters in the presidential election, a number of Fianna Fáil TDs have said.

The veteran broadcaster and potential presidential candidate had “his finger on the pulse” when he outlined his concerns over the development of the EU, one senior party deputy claimed last night.

Laois-Offaly TD Seán Fleming said a lot of people would empathise with Mr Byrne’s view that Ireland was being “run by mad people in Brussels”.

Mr Byrne’s nomination as an Independent candidate could be facilitated by Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members following an offer to the former The Late Late Show presenter by party leader Micheál Martin, who is a committed pro-European.

“There’s an awful lot of people out there not in love with Europe. I often hear people giving out about Europe. The Irish people, they probably feel we’re stuck with Europe and the bailout and the euro and it’s not out of any great love,” Mr Fleming said.

“He’s a man who’s always had his finger on the pulse in Ireland and he’s well on the pulse on this one,” Mr Fleming said. “I think a lot of people will empathise with what Gay said.”

Galway TD Michael Kitt said the people he represented in East Galway “would have a lot of issues about Europe”.

Mr Kitt continued: “I think everybody would be a bit concerned about some of the directives, edicts and proposed legislation coming from Europe.”

Mr Kitt added: “If Gay Byrne were to be elected president, I couldn’t see it being a big issue because that tension is going to be there anyway.”

Asked if Mr Byrne’s stance was not out of synch with views previously espoused by Fianna Fáil, Limerick TD Niall Collins said: “If it is, it’s not an issue for me”.

Mr Collins added: “I’ve no problem with him expressing his opinions. He’s entitled to express his personally held views on things. Just because somebody’s considering running for the Áras doesn’t mean that they have to be gagged or they have to curb their views.”

Mr Byrne said he had received no feedback on his remarks from political sources. “Nothing at all,” he added. He is due to decide whether or not to contest in the coming days. “Nobody’s pushing me to make a decision. I’ll make a decision in my own time.”

Mr Martin, a former minister for foreign affairs who directed his party’s campaign for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, is on holidays with his family and was not available for comment yesterday.

A spokesman for Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said Mr Byrne had been voicing his views on the EU for 30 years. “Gay Mitchell takes a more practical and engaged view of things,” the spokesman said.

Labour candidate Michael D Higgins’s spokeswoman said if Mr Byrne was a candidate “we look forward to debating all issues with him in the course of the campaign, including our alternative vision of Europe”.