The Minister for Public Enterprise made scathing comments in the Dail about the recently resigned CIE chairman, Mr Brian Joyce. Mr Joyce had said his resignation was due to differences with Ms O'Rourke.
Her comments yesterday came after Mr Sean Barrett of Fine Gael had said the problems had been going on for weeks, and that the Minister had done nothing about it.
Ms O'Rourke: The deputy should ask Mr Joyce about that.
Mr Barrett: It is absolutely disgraceful.
Ms O'Rourke: Indeed he was.
Mr John Bruton: The Minister has just stated that Mr Joyce was disgraceful, a person not in the House to defend himself. I ask the Minister to withdraw her remark.
Ms O'Rourke, rising from her seat and bowing ironically to the Chamber: I humbly apologise.
Pressed several times to withdraw the remark, Ms O'Rourke finally said: "I withdraw the remark, but deputies know what he said, that I should not interfere."
Mr Bruton: We have just illustrated why we have a problem.
Ms O'Rourke: Which is exactly why he went.