Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney's decision to seek electoral support for Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has been described as "totally inappropriate" by Opposition TDs.
Fianna Fáil Deputy Willie O'Dea said Mr Delaney should not have visited local soccer clubs and a barber shop with Mr Kelly of Labour in the Tipperary constituency, urging people to vote for the Minister.
“I think it’s totally inappropriate. I think it’s absolutely inappropriate. Frankly I’ve never heard anything like it,” Mr O’Dea said.
“This is another example of the Labour Party refusing to own up to something that they would be highly critical of in Opposition. I mean, is it any wonder that there’s such cynicism about politics out there?”
Mr O’Dea’s party colleague Seán Ó Fearghaíl said it was “quite extraordinary” for someone with Mr Delaney’s profile to “endorse” Mr Kelly.
Earlier, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney described as "unusual" Mr Delaney's decision to seek support for the Minister.
Mr Delaney was criticised for visiting the soccer clubs and barber shop with Mr Kelly in his constituency.
In a local radio interview, Mr Delaney said it was in the interest of Tipperary to have a minister, and he hoped in the election people would remember Mr Kelly's contributions to the county.
However, speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Mr Coveney said: "I think it is a little unusual that a CEO of a big organisation is out actively canvassing for someone, but we live in a democracy and John Delaney is entitled to canvass like anybody else."
Last weekend, in an interview with Tipperary Mid West Radio’s Stevie O’Donnell, Mr Delaney said: “It’s very important to keep a Minister in your own county. As the election comes and as things get nearer to people making decisions I think it is always important to have a minister, irrespective of what party they represent, in your county, because ultimately people deliver.
“People often say to me: well you’ve done a lot for Tipperary Town and St Michael’s Football Club and clubs around the country.
“Well you do that because of a personal connection to the clubs; it’s your job to do [it] but also because you are in a position to do it, and Alan’s in a position to help the county and he has done so with the big announcement of the project in the Silvermines [village] just recently and maybe a few more to come in the coming weeks or so.”
Mr Kelly responded: “I’d echo what John said: it’s important to have someone at the top table in Cabinet. I’ve enjoyed my time there. It’s great to be able to help the club here. It’s great to be able to help in any way I can.
“There is some good positive signs coming and I would hope that, particularly in the employment stakes, that we’ll be able to help Tipperary Town in the very near future.”
Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was inappropriate that Mr Delaney was canvassing for any politician.
Ms McDonald said it was not right that he was being partisan in such an obvious way.
She said: “He heads up an organisation that represents all political persuasions and none. I read this as a friend giving a dig-out to another friend. It is very clear that Alan Kelly has made a mess of his ministry, if you look at water and housing.
“I don’t think a dig-out from John Delaney at the 11th hour will necessarily save him.”
Mr Kelly accused Opposition TDs of "juvenile politics" after his constituency rival Independent TD Mattie McGrath said Mr Delaney's involvement was "highly unusual and inappropriate''.
A spokesman for Mr Kelly said: “[Mr McGrath] is just generally peeved that Alan Kelly has a track record of assisting local clubs improve their facilities.
“Instead of welcoming this, he has opted to play the man and not the ball and is trying to undermine the voluntary efforts of soccer clubs who work with both the council and the FAI for better football pitches.
“He is only doing this because of juvenile politics coming up to the election,” the spokesman added. He did not confirm or deny whether the FAI chief was canvassing.
