Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has criticised Enda Kenny’s lack of visits to flood-hit areas – despite admitting he himself has not been to areas outside of his native Cork.
Fianna Fáil claims that when the Taoiseach visited Athlone, the only flood victims he met were those who were Fine Gael supporters.
Deputy Martin also claimed that Enda Kenny should have travelled more widely instead of spending most of the period within Mayo.
However, when challenged by reporters, the Fianna Fáíl leader admitted he had not visited flooded areas outside of Cork.
“No, not outside Cork, they’re not my constituencies, though,” he said.
He added: “The Taoiseach is the Taoiseach of the country, I’m not Taoiseach of the country.
“He’s the executive in charge now – come on, let’s get straight about this.
He added: “We will be doing all the region, I’ve been in touch with everyone in the region, visited areas that are well outside my constituency but that’s not the point.
“The point is that I got a first-hand view of what was happening on the ground.”
Update (6.17pm): The Taoiseach’s spokesman said the Fianna Fáil leader was “playing politics” with the crisis, and said that when Micheál Martin had himself remained in Cork, “he should desist from giving lectures”.