Watch as Green Party deputy leader apologises for criticising journalist asking 'too many questions'
In the middle of an Irish Mirror journalist asking a question, Roisin Garvey leaned over to Roderic O’Gorman and whispered, “Don’t mind her. She gets too many questions”.
Green Party deputy leader Roisin Garvey has been forced to apologise to an Irish Mirror journalist after criticising them during a press conference for asking “too many questions”. It occurred as Roderic O’Gorman launched his party’s election campaign in Leinster House last Thursday.
The Green Party’s rules state that a leadership competition must be within six months of a general election. The Irish Mirror asked Mr O’Gorman if he would remain leader if the party performed poorly in the polls.
In the middle of the journalist asking the question, Ms Garvey leaned over to Mr O’Gorman and whispered, “Don’t mind her. She gets too many questions”. Despite whispering the remarks, the line of microphones placed in front of Ms Garvey picked up the comments.
Asked by the Irish Mirror if she was afraid of questions during an election campaign, the Green Party deputy leader said she had apologised for the remarks. Ms Garvey did apologise to the journalist shortly before the manifesto launch started.
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“There were many journalists there,” Ms Garvey said. “Usually what happens is a lot of people get to ask a different question. One journalist got to ask a lot of questions. I just wanted fairness from the media, so they all get to ask different questions.”
The Irish Mirror asked three questions at the event. No other journalist was prevented from asking a question. After the last question was asked, there was a silence where no member of the media proffered a question. The press officer then decided to draw it to a close.
Asked if he believed Ms Garvey’s comments were appropriate, Mr O’Gorman said his party has “always been very open to very robust questioning from the media".
“That's the ultimate strength of Irish democracy, and that's always going to remain the same,” he said. “I think we’ve always been open to full questioning from the media”.
Ms Garvey added: “I already apologised to the journalist. I shouldn't have said it. The point I was making is that all journalists should get a fair share of questions.”
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