Catherine Noone called in to my mam about two weeks ago. In the middle of the conversation she apparently slipped in that Varadkar was autistic.
No one believed my mam when she told them, and this morning she has a face on like Mrs Doyle correctly guessing Todd Unctious’ name.
— Arory Borealis (@rohal_) January 28, 2020
Uh-oh.
EARLIER:
.@LeoVaradkar says Sen Catherine Noone has apologised for her remarks about autism and that is “good enough” for him.
He says people need to be “respectful” of people with autism
See @irishexaminer shortly for full reaction #iestaff #ge2020 via @Junomaco pic.twitter.com/qFz6oqk19w— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) January 28, 2020
This morning.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was canvassing in Galway city when he was asked about comments made by Senator Catherine Noone in which she described him as “autistic”.
During a media scrum Mr Varadkar said:
“…but you know, it’s not about me. I just think that we all need to be very aware and very respectful of people who have autism and people who are on the autism spectrum and we need to understand that those terms should never be used in a pejorative way at all.
“And this is a Government that has prioritised autism, you know, we have more ASD units than ever before, more special needs assistants than ever before, more special classes than ever before and also we provided €2million this year for an autism awareness campaign, to educate the public better about understanding what autism and autism spectrum is.
“And we know that isn’t enough…but it is, it’s a good start and we’re going to build on it.”
Asked if Ms Noone should be sanctioned by Fine Gael, he said:
“No, like I say, she’s withdrawn her remarks in full and she’s apologised to those people she’s offended and that’s good for me.”
When it was put to him that Sinn Féin councillor Paddy Holohan had been suspended, over comments he made, and that “surely a suspension is warranted”, Mr Varadkar repeated that Ms Noone had apologised, withdrawn her remarks and that that was “good enough for me”.
He was asked by one journalist how he felt personally about the comments, while another asked if he is still encouraging people to vote for Senator Noone who is running for a seat in Dublin Bay North.
He said: “I encourage people to vote for all of our Fine Gael candidates. Richard Bruton and Catherine Noone are candidates in that constituency.”
Asked by another journalist if he’ll canvass with Ms Noone, Mr Varadkar shrugged and said: “It’s not on the schedule yet but I’m sure I will at some point.”
EARLIER:
See @LeoVaradkar and local candidates pressing the flesh in Eyre Square this morning. #ge2020 pic.twitter.com/noyP2gKiYT
— Declan Varley (@declanvarley) January 28, 2020
Day 14 of #GE2020 campaign and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is in Galway city where he will no doubt face questions on one of his candidates having to apologise for calling him autistic. pic.twitter.com/IIX8MReP6k
— Áine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) January 28, 2020
Rain Man.
Earlier: Not Literally [Updated}
Galway would be nice, if not for the truly shocking weather.
Also, all of the people from there.
You are rocking the snark today, Rob ;)
It really wouldn’t suit you, not your type of place. We’ll do grand
True – I don’t have dreadlocks or a dog on a string, and I don’t play the tin whistle
(I actually like Galway) – I just wish that the people who lived there* would stop going on about it like it was Ireland’s answer to Berlin. It’s a handful of streets with some nice pubs, and Macnas.
*who are not necessarily Galwegians
home is a scrote-free dublin, eh rob?
You’re forgetting the absolute best thing about Galway – Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop.
There are pictures online of people sitting in Eyre Square in sunlight and without umbrellas but I have never seen the place dry.
Love Connemara though – in any weather.
FG people seem to be very flippant with their descriptions. Noone above, and Varadkar with his bandying about the word ‘Nutter’ (a term used by another of his party) on live TV with a large audience last night. (He really has no excuse, being a doctor)
As Michael Healy Rae said this morning wouldn’t it be great if it was a perfect world and we were all perfect people
In what context. I didnt hear that
“Lads, we’re tanking. The electorate think he is a robot, unfeeling, detached and priviliged. How can we get people to develop an ounce of goodwill towards him? How … Bingo! We make them feel sorry for him! He has an affliction! Have one of our own insult his affliction, they take the hit, he is seen as a victim, he gets the sympathy and bada-bing-bada-boom we’re back on track!”
+1
reckon you’re not far off the mark Treasa
this is manipulative nonsense
wow, being autist is an affliction?
If it negatively affects how successfully someone navigates the world then I would probably say yes. I have a friend whose child is severely autistic, non-verbal, requiring 24-hour care. I would say that is an affliction.
Apologies if that was offensive, perhaps “affliction” is an insensitive word. Disorder is probably better. I didn’t mean to offend anyone and am keen to learn how better to talk about it.
It is autistic not “autist”. Just refer to people the way they prefer to be referred to. There is a particular disrespect that is expressed by choosing obscure or archaic way of the describing someone. Like the way racists always insist on writing “Moslem” just to be dicks.
Yeah, but you didn’t mean it that way. Same as all the outrage expressed by the “warriors”. You just used it to score political points. Btw, we all have friends.
You don’t know how I meant it. The bottom line is that I wouldn’t put it past the FG spin machine to manufacture the entire episode. I didn’t mean to be offensive to anyone but FG. And sure, I take it onboard that perhaps it wasn’t the time to score political points.
Nah, Fine Gaffe really aren’t that bright.