Backing for Alan Kelly over TV absence

Joan Burton said Alan Kelly (pictured) was doing 'what he should be doing' in his constituency Photo: Barbara Lindberg

Independent.ie Newsdesk

Tánaiste Joan Burton said "it's very challenging to hide" Alan Kelly.

Mr Kelly has appeared just once in front of TV cameras with the Labour leader since the first full day of canvassing.

But Ms Burton pointed out that he wasn't hiding - and would be appearing today at the launch of the party's housing policy in Limerick, after questions about his absence.

Speaking at Labour's Childcare launch yesterday morning, Ms Burton said Mr Kelly is doing "what he should be doing" in his constituency.

She spoke following Mr Kelly's earlier claims that "power is a drug" and he was "his own boss", in an interview with the 'Sunday Independent'.

It also follows his dispute with Mattie McGrath on radio last week. "I understand Alan is deep in debate with Mattie and the voters of Tipperary. That's what I expect him to be doing.

"Alan, like everybody else, has to be in his own constituency," she said.

Ms Burton said it was too early to speak about Cabinet appointments on RTÉ Radio One's 'Today with Séan O'Rourke'.

"Alan is the deputy leader of the party, of course he'll be in the Cabinet," she said.

"But I am not indicating what department anybody is going to take, even myself, because I think that's presumptuous."

"Let's have the election first," she added.