Veteran TD Willie O'Dea blames his own Government for 'punishing' Budget as voters wallop the Coalition at ballots

"A veteran TD has castigated his own Government over the 'punishing' Budget as a public wallop against the coalition is emergings at the ballot box today."

"There needed to be two strong Government candidates to have a chance against all others with their candidate."

Willie O'Dea, a veteran Fianna Fáil TD and former Minister for Defence, castigated his own Government over a 'punishing' Budget. He observed Connolly votes tumbling from ballot boxes as a public backlash struck the coalition at the ballot box. He judged the Budget to have inflicted a serious political blow on government prospects. He said two strong Government candidates were required to stand a chance against opponents who presented a single, unified candidate. The electoral returns signaled a growing challenge for the coalition and underscored internal concern within Fianna Fáil about election strategy and candidate strength.

Read at Irish Independent