Phone-in listeners blast morning radio 'disgrace'
RADIO listeners yesterday were furious over Brian Cowen's controversial early morning radio interview.
RTE listeners overwhelmingly took the Taoiseach to task for his stumbling, groggy-sounding chat with 'Morning Ireland' presenter Cathal Mac Coille on Radio One.
The encounter made headlines around the world amid claims by Fine Gael's Simon Coveney that the Taoiseach appeared to be either drunk or hungover.
"This is the last straw. This is the bottom of the barrel. This is a man who is supposed to be leading us and leading the country and trying to sort out the problems we have," a listener to the 'Liveline' programme said.
Another listener named Conor, who has just graduated from University College Cork, called the Taoiseach's performance "a disgrace".
"He was inept," he told presenter Joe Duffy.
"A performance like that will not inspire confidence in the money markets."
Liveline listener Olive from Belmullet, Co Mayo, said the Taoiseach should resign over the blunder and call an election. "He is a thundering disgrace," she said
But one caller named Phil said the clearly unrehearsed interview showed Mr Cowen is not a "glib politician" whose every word is stage-managed by advisers or media consultants.
"So what if he had a late night last night? He is human," he added.
"I would take it with a grain of salt," a listener told 'Midlands 103' radio in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- Allison Bray
Irish Independent
