27/03/2012

McCarthy Disgusted By Language Of Health Minister

Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has hit out at the Health Minister Edwin Poots for insulting him during an Assembly debate on the accident and emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday.

The Health Minister said: "Mr McCarthy, in true style as that of the village idiot."

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "I was disgusted that the Minister used such language during an Assembly debate. The Assembly is meant to be a place for mature and grown up debate, not a place for insulting language to be used.

"I would have thought that a Minister in our Executive would have the capability to come up with a valid response to my criticism but by using such language he has in effect lost the argument.

"This incident has been reported to the Speaker and I await his ruling but I would think that Mr Poots will do the honest thing and apologise to me."

(CD/GK)

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