MARY MINIHAN

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has said Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney was acting “on behalf of the FAI” when encouraging voters to support him.

Mr Delaney has been criticised for visiting local soccer clubs and a barber shop with Mr Kelly in his Tipperary constituency by Opposition TDs, who said it was “totally inappropriate”.

However, Mr Kelly said he could not see anything wrong with Mr Delaney supporting his bid to be re-elected as a Labour TD.

“He was fulfilling engagements on behalf of the FAI with me in Tipperary last Friday and I don’t see anything wrong with that whatsoever,” Mr Kelly said.

“If John Delaney feels it appropriate that people in Tipperary vote for me, that’s fine by me, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

“But to say he was going around campaigning, actively canvassing for me would be a long stretch of the imagination and I don’t think it’s appropriate to say that.”

Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea said the development was encouraging cynicism about politics. “I think it’s totally inappropriate. I think it’s absolutely inappropriate. Frankly, I’ve never heard anything like it,” Mr O’Dea said. “This is another example of the Labour Party refusing to own up to something that they would be highly critical of in opposition. I mean, is it any wonder that there’s such cynicism about politics out there?”

‘Extraordinary’

Mr O’Dea’s party colleague Seán Ó Fearghaíl said it was “quite extraordinary” for someone with Mr Delaney’s high public profile to “endorse” Mr Kelly.

Fine Gael Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe said people were entitled to express their private views but the general election campaign should be left to political figures. He said it was important “those that are involved in leading major sports organisations are not in the political arena when that is taking place”.

‘Unusual’

The development was described as “unusual” by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet yesterday morning, the Fine Gael Minister said: “I think it is a little unusual that a CEO of a big organisation is out actively canvassing for someone, but we live in a democracy and John Delaney is entitled to canvass like anybody else.”

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald was also critical of both Mr Kelly and Mr Delaney. “He heads up an organisation that represents all political persuasions and none. I read this as a friend giving a dig-out to another friend. It is very clear that Alan Kelly has made a mess of his ministry if you look at water and housing,” she said.

In an interview with Tipperary Mid West Radio last weekend, Mr Delaney said it was in the interests of Tipperary to have a minister, and he hoped in the election people would remember Mr Kelly’s contributions to the county.