Lowry defends 'not bad looking' comment

Written By Unknown on Senin, 26 Januari 2015 | 22.40

Independent TD Michael Lowry has said he wrote a note to the Taoiseach, published in yesterday's Sunday Independent, asking him to re-appoint Valerie O'Reilly to the board of the National Transport Authority.

He told RTÉ's News At One that such notes would not be uncommon or unusual and that it happens in the Dáil all the time.

He said that Ms O'Reilly is highly capable and very efficient, and that she should be considered for re-appointment on those conditions.

According to the TD, he gives references every day of the week and he claimed "we do that in politics".

In relation to his comments about Ms O'Reilly being "bright, intelligent and not bad looking either", Mr Lowry said that it was not meant to be sexist, and that it was a light-hearted, unnecessary comment.

He said that he had no regrets over the note.

Deputy Lowry said that the note came about when, sometime last week, Ms O'Reilly asked him to convey a message to Government that she was willing to remain on as a board member.

He said that her application was in process and after she made the request of him, he made his own inquiries as to how she had performed as a member of the board and that he was told that she was an excellent board member.

Mr Lowry said that he wrote the note in the Dáil chamber and that it was not a conditional request or a demand, describing it as a "reference".

He said that he was contacted on Saturday morning by a journalist from the Sunday Independent telling him that he had this note and that the Taoiseach had left the note behind in the Dáil chamber.

Deputy Lowry said that he was told by the journalist that the note was picked up and given to him by a Labour member of the Government.

He said that he has never had a situation where a woman took exception to a compliment on her appearance; on her nice dress, or on a nice pair of shoes or hairstyle, asking whether a politician is allowed to make a compliment.

Mr Lowry said that he was not sure whether the Taoiseach had read the note because it was intercepted on the Government benches and given directly to a journalist. 

"On the looks, that was a light-hearted, unnecessary comment that I made. I've never had a situation where a woman took exception to a compliment on her appearance; on her nice dress, or a nice pair of shoes or hairstyle. Are you telling me that a politician is not allowed to make a compliment? It wasn't meant to be a sexist comment," he said.

"Her capabilities are well proven, her CV speaks for itself, her contribution to the board speaks for itself. And I've already said it was a light-hearted comment and it was an unnecessary comment," Mr Lowry added. 


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