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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said he accepts an apology from one of his candidates who described him as “autistic”.
Fine Gael general election candidate Catherine Noone apologised this morning for describing the Taoiseach as being “on the spectrum” and “autistic”.
Speaking in Galway this morning, he said:
“She has withdrawn her remarks and apologised and, you know, that’s good enough for me.
“Well, you know, it’s not about me. I just think that we all need to be very aware. I’m very respectful of people who have autism, people who are on the autism spectrum and we need to understand that those terms should never be used in a pejorative way at all.
“And this is a government that has prioritised autism more than ever before for special needs assistance, never before more special classes, never before.
I set aside two million this year for an autism awareness campaign to educate the public better about understanding (autism).
The Times, Ireland Edition, first reported the senator’s comments, which she made while canvassing in her Dublin Bay North constituency.
“He’s autistic like, he’s on the spectrum, there’s no doubt about it. He’s uncomfortable socially and he doesn’t always get the inbetween bits,” she said.
If I do say so, I am much more natural than he would be. I’ve been in rooms with him and he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’s naturally shy. But he’s actually a very good politician.
When contacted by The Times about her remarks, she initially denied using the word “autistic” but she was informed there was a recording. She then said she did not mean the word literally.
This morning, Noone released a statement apologising and withdrawing her comments:
“I unequivocally apologise and withdraw all of my remarks, as reported by TheTimes.ie, which were completely unacceptable,” she said.
My choice of language was inexcusable and wrong. I am truly sorry. I will not be making any further comment.
In a statement, deputy CEO of autism charity and advocacy group AsIAm, Fiona Ferris said the stereotyping of Autism “unfortunately leads to many autistic individuals feeling stigmatised”.
“Autism is a complex, invisible condition that has an extensive clinical diagnostic process. We need to be careful not to engage in ‘doorstep diagnosis’ because we cannot definitively tell whether or not someone is on the spectrum without a full assessment,” she said.
Ferris said autistic people “can of course empathise, just as non-autistic people can”.
“However that empathy may be communicated or even processed differently.
“AsIAm is working on a national level to educate wider society about how autistic people experience the world, and a large part of that is dispelling myths or misconceptions like this which increase the stigma surrounding the condition. We would encourage politicians to learn more about autism and support AsIAm’s #HappierHealthierLonger election pledge.”
- With reporting from Michelle Hennessy and PA
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Don’t vote for Sinn Féin.
@Sim0n: why would you say that here? this article makes no mention of sf. what’s wrong with you??
@Sim0n: DON’T LISTEN TO SIMON. VOTE SINN FÉIN :0)
@Adam Kelly: Sorry for upsetting you Adam. I was just continuing the recent trend on telling people how to vote in the comments. It’s great fun. @Ebeneezer: stop shouting!! :)
@Adam Kelly: because every article has a SF supporter saying vote SF
@Sim0n: I’LL STOP SHOUTING WHEN YOU STOP SPOUTING SHYTE
@Louise Tracey: okay but I and most others don’t agree with that either… it’s so so embarrassing to see that people cannot stay on point with these articles
@Sim0n: is that you Coveney
@Adam Kelly: embarrassing? Beebaw beebaw SNOWFLAKE ALERT !!!!!
@Sim0n: Good man Simon – Getting in there before the Sinn Fein numbskull’s.
@RAYZ88: Is that you Macsharry? This game is fun!
@Pascal the Rascal: they didnt cover it up, they held a kangaroo court
@Pascal the Rascal: fine gael and fianna fail, hand in hand with the church would never do anything like that, would they?
@Ebeneezer Goode: yes you are absolutely correct. They gave the church a free reign.
Did any of them make their brother president of a cumann after he had been accused of sexual abuse.
@Ebeneezer Goode: Thats a lie Mr. Goode and you know it. Catholic church allowed the catholic church to abuse children. And you didn’t answer the question? Google search ‘Sinn Fein Sex abuse cover up’ for me there mate.
@Ebeneezer Goode: actually the whole of society was happy to let this happen. Parents sent their daughters to these places knowing what they were like. Parents threatened to send their sons to industrial schools if they misbehaved, knowing what was going on in there. There are more recent cases, where the whole community basically clammed up and refused to cooperate with the gardai in the investigation of allegations against priests and school teachers in the parish. To blame the establishment is fair enough to a point. None of the above bears any relation to Sinn fein covering up abuse or Adam’s behaviour in relation to his abusing brother.
@Connoroconner: Rubbish. You’re victim blaming. FFG were quite happy to ignore the stories of abuse. Dev facilitated it. Others looked the other way. The whole of society did not let this happen. FFG and catholic church had the power to stop the abuse. They didn’t.
@Sim0n: Autistic????
@Sim0n: it only encourages them
@Ebeneezer Goode: history is a lot more complex than you seem to think. It’s not that simple. Hindsight is not the most effective way to judge events of the past.
@Sim0n: no intention of
@Sim0n: Why Not.. Blueshirts/F.F. ? One destroyed this country, The other just piled on to the mess. The status quo is what brought this country to the disaster it now finds itself in.
@Pascal the Rascal: Numbskulls are the people who will vote for blueshirt/ F.F. colition. A vote for either of them is akin to choosing between the pox and the plague.
@Sim0n:
is that you coveney?
@Margaret Mcgarry: Good woman Margaret!
She said “he doesn’t get the in between bits” (socially). Does she? It would appear not.
Weird all right to hear that solicitors are now diagnosing medical conditions!
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Country’s gone PC mad.
@Dom Layzell: how’s that apply here? She’s using autism as an insult, inaccurately calling it an illness and lying about doing it.
@Deborah Blacoe:
It’s a peculiar thing for someone to say about anyone, let alone their boss!
Maybe an element of distraction from the more serious issues going on, at play here.
Or maybe a sympathy vote….
This is entirely inappropriate from Catherine Noone. I question this woman’s fitness for office (again). Equally I note Leo Varadkar didn’t mention cutting HSE budgets to carers of adults on the spectrum, our very own forgotten and ignored population.
@Susan Crawford PhD: Carers of all types are getting a raw deal from this government. I have an acquaintance who is the single mother of a profoundly disabled and medically fragile teenager. (She also has one other son). She gets no home care nursing assistance. She is on call 24/7 and is, quite frankly, at the end of her tether. How much would it cost the state to look after her son if she can no longer do so? As a nation we are failing those who are in need.
@Susan Crawford PhD: 2 million set aside for an awareness campaign and exactly how many children with autism were without school places this year? Government throwing money in the wrong areas as usual.
@LittleBee: how much of that 2.5 mlion went to Simon Harris brother for ASIAM and appointing him to top job in Hse?
@James Dooley: To be honest I don’t know much about him or the position other then he has Autism and is the founder of ASIAM. So I would say appointing him is probably one of the more sensible decisions they have made. Are you suggesting he shouldn’t be paid to do his job? From what I read here earlier hes only paid €40,000 which is less then some school secretaries and nurses.
She said it like it’s an insult. It’s not. It’s just how some people are. Usually, but not always, people on the spectrum have exceptional strengths and qualities. Mind you I don’t see any of those exceptional qualities in Leo.
@Jane: Has she apologised to those with autism or has she only apologised to herr leader?
@Ebeneezer Goode: oh I think this apology was especially for poor ole Leo.
@Ebeneezer Goode: Did the Sinn Fein Councillor that waterboarded a young lad ever apologize?
@Jane: Herr leader! Do you mean further?
@Ebeneezer Goode: Herr leader! Do you mean fuhrer?
@Ebeneezer Goode: wow that’s a bit nasty
Leo has been very gracious in accepting the apology from Noone, just as he was with the remarks from the SF councillor, Paddy Houlihan. However, the issue here is the stereotyping of people with autism and the total lack of self-awareness of a public representative in terms of ASD.
@Joe Nolan: well said was just goin to type the same but u done it for me . Acceptance of the apologies and not point scoring or going woe is me shows a bit of class .kudos leo
@Joe Nolan: Paddy Hooligan actually.
He probably thought she was calling him artistic
@Stephen Devlin: yeah she’s probably dyslexic too
@Ronan Walsh: she is probably at home right now, writing about it in her dairy..
@Stephen Devlin: Nice IT Crowd reference.
Catherine Noone is a member of the Upper house of the Oireachtas. She is well educated and is a trained solicitor. We should expect more.
We expected Senate reforms; long overdue and not forgotten.
Anyone apologizing to the autistic community?
Deny. Deny. Deny. Oh there’s a recording? Well I didn’t mean it literally obvs! Dope.
I think Leo’s background attributes more to his social inadequacies and his lack of understanding and empathy, he is most certainly not a man of the people and comes across as very aloof and awkward a bit like the royals, her choice of language was was very immature and poor but I can see where she might be coming from!..
@Kate Flaherty: to say he lacks empathy is riddiculious. You can’t in anyway know that. Your words are therefore equally immature
@Kate Flaherty: I’m pretty sure there are socially shy people in every town and city across the country, regardless of background. I’d actually welcome someone who is now pragmatic rather than the usual ex-teacher or lawyer “people” people who are better at getting people to like them than run the country.
@Kate Flaherty: people with autism don’t necessarily lack empathy
Lied until she was told there was a recording, all I need to know about the Senator!
Her comments were completely uncalled for and really unprofessional on her part.
Who cares if he’s socially awkward? I’ll be voting on politicians actions, not their social persona
How much is Ms Noone charging for a diagnosis?
She didn’t just insult him so he can’t accept the apology!
@Craic_a_tower: yeah but in fairness that’s part of what he said
@Craic_a_tower: He can accept the apology he just can’t accept it on behalf of others, which he’s not doing.
What about her using the “n” word in her response to the journalist? Has that not been questioned?
Accepts the apology then goes on to capitalise how much FG have done for autism.. everything’s a sales pitch with this lot.
@Lydia McLoughlin: especially when gaping chasms can be poked in what they’ve done for for people with autism.
He accepted apology quickly because He does not want another ” Wexford” scenario. He is just trying to paper over the Cracks. He cannot pull Her out of it now, she will not get elected anyway. As I said before, you can apologise as much as you like, but words cannot ever be taken back, never, it is there for all time, and most people will not forget, simple as that.
The infighting beginning already.
@Peter McGlynn: I believe Sinn Féin have been taking the lead on infighting for a number of years now. Was it something like 10% of their elected members have left the party in recent years? Allegations of all sorts. You might have seen the articles here previously.
I cannot understand the problem ! Autism is not a shame nor a disease but a mindset which is powerful, attractive, surprising and never dull !! For god sake can we come back to normality !!!
Leo, like many others seems to be under the impression autism ends at 18. Autistic adults and their carers are just forgotten because it’s easier and more palatable to highlight cute, quirky kids who can flourish in mainstream than kids who can’t and grown adults with challenging behaviours.
Leo Varadkar should sack Catherine Noone from the Fine Gael party. As leader, he should not stand for such disrespectful and disloyal comments.
Catherine Noone is a childish woman. The national parliament deserves better than to have such immature people in it.
@J. Reid: As it is not straightforward to diagnose, his reluctance to engage in normal politics may actually be attributed to higher functioning autism or Asperger’s. But as Ricky Gervais said, that’s “not the right kind of autism” for the outraged on here.
@Brin: she used autism and various associated stereotypes as a slur. What’s not to be cross about?
@J. Reid: He cannot sack her from the party but he could tell her to stand down. If she really showed her remorse and embarrassment over her comments she would have de-selected herself from the election.
She only apologised after being told her comments were recorded. Shame on her.
Well he’s hardly at this stage going to drop the “nutter” from the Dublin North Bay constituency.
Spent some time with her before over a number of days was not impressed by her at all.
So I’m not surprised at all with today’s reports.
“Prioritised autism more than ever before”?If that’s the case why did FG have to be forced to accept the minister for education having the power to compel schools to set up special classes where there’s a need and the schools refuse?Why has that power only been under cackhandedly to set up 6 special classes in Leo’s constituency?Is he that hard up for votes?Doesn’t the rest of the country exist?Why doesn’t his government fund secondary ASD special classes like they do primary special classes?Why did lie and edit out the offending section of their own document that said they should?Why r schools permitted to routinely abuse the resources of ASD special classes? Why isn’t there anywhere near enough teacher training and none for SNAs?& why r FG planning to abolish all special schools&classes?
@gm_cmanning: and why is there zero resources or staff training for ASD students in third level
@LittleBee: not sufficient? I’m sure but zero? Was asked into UCC recently for meeting re transitions and exactly such resources so zero might be overstating it?
@gm_cmanning: ok fair enough maybe not zero but from what I can gather certainly nowhere near enough. I was at a conference with Dr Mark Glynn from DCU who has done amazing work but the statistics of people with Autism entering third level , finishing their degrees or progressing beyond level 7 or 8 in comparison to neuro typical students are a clear indication that there is no where near enough training, resources or facilities to support students with Autism to achieve the same goals.
@LittleBee: can’t argue with that. And Leo’s gov and the NCSE are planning to get rid of every special class and special school
I think Leo’s background attributes more to his social inadequacies and his lack of understanding and empathy, he is most certainly not a man of the people and comes across as very aloof and awkward a bit like the royals, her choice of language was was very immature and poor but I can see where she might be coming from!..
Is she apologising for an incorrect diagnosis or for deliberately using autism as a foil for insensitive behavior?
The best ever government for people with autism. That’s total lies, hundreds of children with autism can’t get school places
@Bananaquit: It’s autistic people and autistic children not people/children with autism, the autistic community rejects person first language
@Grainne Gillespie: some do, some don’t. As long as neither is said with malice and changed if someone prefers
I have no time for Leo but a comment like that is vile , disgusting and ignorant . She should be removed from FG immediately. I think on this occasion Leo is very gracious .
How an experienced solicitor who can blurt out comments that insult her party leader and everyone who might be on the autism spectrum really defies belief.
She has blown any chance of being elected.
His: ‘ah its alright, no harm done’ completely undermines the idiocy of her statement and is also an insult to autistic people and their families. It would be one thing if she was just your average member of the public that said something incredibly stupid and ignorant that would be one thing, but she is running as a candidate and what she says is meant to carry weight and be influential. All of the people texting in to radio today asking people to leave her alone, and everyone makes mistakes ect. Are they planning on voting for her?
Nobody else is wondering why there was a recording? Are people that sad that they covertly record canvassers now?
Was there even a recording?
Again saying whatever they want to say for effect and then absolute denial until a recording resurfaces absolutely despicable
A few back when I had a project at the BT Young Scientist in the RDS, I remeber my mate tried to call on Leo, long before he was Taoiseach, as he walked by our stand for your typical photo opp. I still remeber his reaction when we called his name, and thinking he had to have had some social condition.
I honestly felt awkward near him, its difficult to describe it. I am obviously no doctor or in any position to make a diagnosis, but I certainly wouldn’t be one to rule it out.
Regardless, I utterly dispise Noone she is one of the most insufferable politicians in the State. Her personal ambition knows no bounds and her behaviour in certain committee hearings is atrocious.
This politician should stand down from the election. Her apology was offered only after she realised her comments were recorded, otherwise she would have continued to deny she uttered the word.
How can she be trusted to represent any constituency when she shows such a lack of common sense and judgement.
Will she also apologise to people who are autistic and their loved ones or will she commit to further educate herself about the condition?
If it wasn’t a general election campaign she’d have been shown the door by the FG hierarchy just as Maria Baily and Verona Murphy were.
Hopefully, people in Dublin Bay North will reject her at the polls on Saturday week.
@Ken Curran: oh for god sakes, get a life. Personal correctness has gone mad. She was having a private conversation that was overheard by a reporter. She didn’t stand in front of a mike and announce it to the world. How many of your off the record conversations would you like published?
Silly woman. Put on thinking cap. Don’t be negative
She’s an idiot and I apologise to all idiots out there for my unfortunate use of a condition and classing her as being from among you.
have your say