The disability worker at the centre of a viral clip with Taoiseach Simon Harris has said she was “shaken” after her interaction with the Fine Gael leader, who she said rang her to apologise in person on Saturday morning.
Charlotte Fallon, who works with St Joseph’s Foundation, is the woman who was at the centre of a now-viral clip where she accused the Government of ignoring the disability sector. Mr Harris denied that the sector was being ignored, before walking away from her, despite the fact she was emotional.
Mr Harris said on Instagram on Saturday morning that he “feels really bad” about the exchange he had with Ms Fallon in a supermarket in Kanturk, Co Cork, on Friday while he was on the general election campaign trail.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Fallon said: “I was shaken, I was upset. I exited through the back door because I just didn’t want to go back into that crowd. I came down the laneway and the campaign was passing by. I wish I had said more.
“I feel like Section 39s are not being recognised. We are still sitting ducks.”
She said she feels like Section 39 organisations, which are grant-funded independent providers of services, are “losing really good workers”.
“My CEO rang me this morning and said: ‘we are all backing you 1,000 per cent’. He said he could not be more proud. That came from my CEO Michael Hegarty.”
She said the Taoiseach rang her on Saturday to apologise in person.
“I’ve just come off the phone with Simon Harris. I’m still a bit shook. He rang me and apologised and took full responsibility. He said that is not the way he works. He said he was very sorry and that he had a long day. He said it was subject he was passionate on, and I said so am I. He said there was no need for that, you were only doing your shopping, I was harsh. He said I deserved to have my say. I’m glad I got the apology.”
Ms Fallon said: “He was horrible last night. I am not going to deny that. He was totally wrong. It wasn’t very nice. I hope nobody else has to have an interaction like that ever, because it’s not very nice going home crying. He said he didn’t sleep much last night. He’s a politician.”
Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon in Dublin, Mr Harris said: “I called Charlotte this morning as she was absolutely owed an apology from me. The buck stops with me entirely here.”
He said the pair had a “good conversation” over the phone and “I was grateful to her for her time and her kindness”.
Mr Harris said they spoke about disability services, the issue of pay parity for people in Section 39 organisations, and the means test for carers which Fine Gael is promising to get rid of.
He said he was “really grateful for the conversation” and “learnt a lot from it”.
Mr Harris has also said he wants to visit Ms Fallon’s workplace in Cork, St Joseph’s Foundation, “and she said I’d be very welcome”.
Tanaiste Micheál Martin, speaking to reporters in Cork, said he hoped he wouldn’t have behaved like Mr Harris did when he turned on his heel when challenged by Ms Fallon, but he said the Taoiseach had apologised and it was time to move on from the issue.
“I think the Taoiseach has acknowledged that he could have done better yesterday in his engagement with that person in Kanturk ... he has essentially apologised and acknowledged he should have dealt with it differently and in a better manner and I’ll leave it at that at this stage.”
Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin, however, claimed the Taoiseach’s remarks showed “the real face of Fine Gael”.
He argued the party has “absolute contempt for hard-working people, for carers and people with disabilities”.
Speaking on social media on Saturday morning, Mr Harris apologised to Ms Fallon after the clip, recorded in a supermarket by RTÉ News, was widely shared on Friday night.
Ms Fallon said she was a Section 39 disability worker and told the Taoiseach that “we fought for our money, and we were ignored.”
Mr Harris said: “no, no, not at all.”
She said: “yes, we were. Yes, we were.” She told him the disability sector was “a joke” and, becoming emotional, said that she was “very passionate about my job”.
Mr Harris said: “I am very passionate about disability too.” After another brief exchange, the Taoiseach walked away from Ms Fallon.
The Taoiseach went live on Instagram on Saturday morning and said: “I did not give her the time I should have given her”.
“I do want to say this. One of the reasons I got involved in politics, in fact the reason I got involved in politics, is disability services. I wouldn’t be a politician, or certainly a politician at such a young age, was my brother not born with autism, did I not see the struggle my parents, particularly my mother, went through in trying to fight for services and answers and the loneliness that my family often felt as well.
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“That is why I’m determined to prioritise disability services and the needs of carers as well. I’ve had those conversations with so many people right across Ireland. I was in Kanturk last night, at the end of a very long day, and I was talking to a woman who works in a Section 39 disability organisation. She was raising issues with me and I want to say I did not give her the time I should have given her.
“I feel really bad about that. It’s not who I am. It’s not what makes me tick. I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know I am in the business of listening, of learning, of acting when it comes to disability services.”
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