CAMPAIGN LAUNCH:FORMER FIANNA Fáil TD Mattie McGrath last night accused the outgoing Cabinet of being "detached from the people" and said his old party had lost its "social conscience".
Mr McGrath resigned from Fianna Fáil two weeks ago to run as an Independent.
“I think the Government lost its social conscience. I think our institutions failed us. We need political change here,” he told up to 300 supporters at his campaign launch in Co Tipperary last night.
The ballroom of Cahir House Hotel was packed for the rally, whose guest of honour was the chief executive of the Jack and Jill Foundation, Jonathan Irwin.
There was a standing ovation when Mr McGrath arrived, as campaign song Rise and Follow Mattie played in the background, prompting supporters to sing along, “Ooh, aah Mattie McGrath, ooh aah Mattie McGrath”.
Mr McGrath said he told finance minister Brian Lenihan during the IMF/EU negotiations that the problem with him and the negotiating team of officials was that none of you have ever bought or sold a banbh at a fair.