The latest in a long line of car crash interviews
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FAS chief executive Rody Molloy yesterday joined the notorious list of car crash interviews which have prompted angry public responses.
Generally, each of the infamous interviews was distinguished by a similar flaw: the interviewee showed a distinct detachment from the mood and reality of his listeners.
Padraig Flynn on the Late Late Show (1999)
In a jaw-dropping interview in January 1999, then European Commissioner Padraig Flynn complained to host Gay Byrne about the "difficulty" of owning and running three houses on a salary of €165,000 per annum.
In an effort to sidestep a question about Tom Gilmartin, who had given him a political donation, Mr Flynn told the audience that Mr Gilmartin was unwell and that his wife was in poor health.
That statement prompted the developer to reverse his earlier decision not to give evidence to the Mahon Tribunal -- a decision which had a massive impact on the workings of the Mahon Tribunal for the last eight years.
Joe Jacob on the Marian Finucane Show (2001)
Hauled in to reassure the public in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, junior energy minister Joe Jacob instead caused what is now referred to as "Iodine-Gate" after failing to explain how iodine tablets would be distributed.
One of most infamous remarks was that: "I am very qualified to talk to you about nuclear issues . . . it was considered highly unlikely that as a small nuclear country Ireland would be targeted, I beg your pardon . . . I have got nuclear on the brain now, I mean a small neutral country."
Joe Walsh on Morning Ireland (2007)
The nation got an insight into how out of touch Fianna Fail ministers were during an early morning interview with former Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh.
After spending years being chauffeured around in a ministerial car, a newly-retired Mr Walsh told astonished listeners that "roundabouts were a new thing to me".
Describing the multi-storey car park experience, he said: "I didn't realise that the barrier didn't lift until you pressed the button and got out a little ticket."
- ine Kerr
