It was 'bad manners' of U2 fans to boo the Taoiseach at the band's Croke Park concert last weekend, the leader of the Seanad, Mary O'Rourke, said today.
Ms O'Rourke claimed in the Seanad today that some fans had been “revved up” to jeer Bertie Ahern after U2 frontman Bono appealed to him to honour pledges on overseas development aid.
“I want to say that it is very bad manners for any section of an audience to boo a person in authority. It doesn't matter if Pat Rabbitte was the Taoiseach or Enda Kenny,” Senator O'Rourke said.
“The Taoiseach shouldn't be booed. I don't think the Taoiseach should be booed.”
The Seanad leader, who said two members of her own family were at the concert, added: “There was a distinct section of the audience that was revved up to boo.”
During the performance Bono had welcomed the Taoiseach to the show, but called on him to live up to the Government's 2001 commitment to raising overseas development aid to 0.7 per cent of GNP.
Last year the Cabinet admitted that this target, which currently stands at 0.4 per cent would not be reached.
Senator Brendan Ryan of Labour said that people at the concert were blaming the Taoiseach for making solemn pledges on aid.
“This weekend in Croke Park, the Taoiseach was yet again booed - deservedly, for his betrayal of the poor of the world.
“The U2 lead singer pointed out his betrayal of the poor of the world and the young people of Ireland who were at the concert, responded appropriately.
“If Fianna Fail understood the idea that if you make a promise, you keep it, this country would have a heck of a lot better politicians.
“The people of Ireland are far batter than Fianna Fail think they are.”
He assured the House that an alternative government would endeavour to keep that promise.
PA