Tánaiste Micheál Martin doubled down on his criticism of online publication The Ditch, saying he is not going to let anyone “bandy around the word corruption and defame people”.
It followed on from his scathing attack on the website in the Dáil chamber on Thursday afternoon.
The Ditch has published a number of stories about Government parties and ministers that have resulted in resignations. Both Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy and Fine Gael’s Damien English resigned following stories the website wrote about them.
READ MORE: Tánaiste Micheál Martin launches attack on 'The Ditch' ahead of Niall Collins' statement
The latest tranche of articles written by The Ditch centred on Minister of State Niall Collins and the sale of a plot of land in Limerick to his wife in 2008.
Ahead of Mr Collins’ statement in the Dáil on the matter, the Tánaiste launched a scathing attack on The Ditch, saying that he did not believe they were “independent media '' as he accused them of launching “political campaigns”.
Speaking in Cork on Friday morning, Mr Martin stood by and doubled down on his criticism of the platform.
He also said that anyone who has stood down because of stories published by The Ditch did so off their own backs and were not pressured by Government to do so.
The Tánaiste said: “I don't believe what's happening through this publication and through all of the online activity that follows and all the trolling and all the paid for ads, I don't think that's good for politics.
“It's not something that I, as a political leader, want in any way to facilitate by adding to the drama in Leinster House and in the Dáil forum.
“It's a pity. But, those of us who are the subject of the attacks, and it's not just Niall Collins, many others have been the subject of attacks, including myself, by The Ditch, which were false.
“People who back The Ditch, they bandy words around corruption and so on and they defame people repeatedly.
“Sorry, I'm not going to stand back and allow that go unchallenged.”
Mr Martin said that “clearly the Government has been targeted” as he pointed out the “language that is used in relation to various politicians who have particular views and a particular political philosophy or orientation that doesn't commend itself to the backers of The Ditch.”
In a statement to the Irish Mirror, a spokesperson for The Ditch branded Mr Martin’s contributions in the Dáil as a “hysterical, paranoid attack”.
They denied the Tánaiste’s suggestion that they had bought ads and said that they are “funded by our subscribers, who donate through a link on our website, as well as Web Summit as part of the company’s support for Irish media”.
They added: “The Ditch’s investigative reporting has led to the resignations of two ministers in Martin’s government, as well as the ex-deputy chairperson of An Bord Pleanála – these consequences explain Martin’s conspiracism in the Dáil.”
READ NEXT:
- Niall Collins says his actions on Limerick site sale were 'legally correct'
- Ex-GSOC officer in Gerry Hutch party probe quizzed on suspicion of offence that carries seven-year jail term
Gardaí investigating GSOC officer in Gerry Hutch party probe arrest man in his 60s
Wild Youth to appear on Late Late Show amid creative director controversy
