Gary Gannon says sorry for 'silly' comment linking journalists to special adviser jobs
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon stated in a podcast that while for some jobs you need 'CVs', journalists need 'front pages' to get special adviser jobs.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has apologised for comments he made suggesting the journalist who broke the Eoin Hayes story “recognised there are special adviser jobs coming up”.
He stated in a podcast that while for some jobs you need “CVs”, journalists need “front pages” to get special adviser jobs.
Irish Daily Mail Political Editor Craig Hughes broke the story last week that Eoin Hayes, the Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay South, worked for US firm Palantir and held shares in the company. Mr Hayes was suspended on Tuesday for providing false information to the media about when he sold the shares.
He stated that they were sold before he was elected to Dublin City Council in June. He then confirmed that they were sold in July for a pre-tax price of €199,000. He was later suspended from the party.
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In an episode of the Echo Chamber Podcast, which was recorded last week but published on Tuesday, Mr Gannon was asked about the story in the Irish Daily Mail.
He responded: “I think there’s one particular journalist who… I think what’s happened at the moment is that there’s a couple of journalists who recognise there’s special advisor jobs coming up. In other jobs, you put in CVs. In these jobs, you put front pages out.”
Mr Gannon confirmed that he had apologised to Mr Hughes and apologised to the wider press corps following the Social Democrats’ meeting with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris this evening.
“Once again to reiterate, I apologise [to the journalist],” he said. “I don’t think it’s acceptable to. I apologise. It was a very silly comment.”
Asked if the Social Democrats would rule out hiring journalists into special adviser jobs, Mr Gannon said that he “retracted the comments”.
He continued: “They’re not a reflection of the Social Democrats’ view at all. It was something I said. It was grossly silly. I apologise to Craig again and to yourselves [other journalists] but it’s not a reflection of the Social Democrats.”
He added: “I’ll say it as many times as necessary, it was a ridiculous, stupid comment on my part. I apologise. I think [journalists] do a vital job. I let the party down. It was last week, coming out of a heavy general election. I was tired, I wasn’t being my best self. It's no reflection of mine or the party’s views on the work journalists do”.
When Mr Gannon was asked if one of his staff members was a former journalist, he said, “Like most political parties, there are journalists there, yes”.
The head of the Social Democrats communications unit Colette Browne and their senior press officer Tony McCullagh are both former journalists.
Asked by the Irish Mirror if Mr Gannon would be disciplined, deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said that “Gary has apologised”.
He said: “I don’t think they were acceptable. It was right that Gary has apologised. I don't think that kind of comments should be made.”
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