"I suppose I broke the rules of the old boys’ club in Leinster House," Simon Coveney tells Hot Press

In an exclusive interview in the new issue of Hot Press (out today), Fine Gael's Simon Coveney discusses the bank bailout, excessive spending on Ministerial travel, the death of his father, his respect for Tony Blair and last year's infamous tweet.

On the bank bailout, Coveney declares: "We think it is unacceptable that Ireland is being asked to pay over six per cent interest rate from our EU partners. Germany can borrow money at a little over three percent. The whole purpose of the European Union is based on solidarity. So when one or two or three countries are in trouble, stronger countries support them. But the idea that countries would be making money out of Ireland’s misfortune – that they can borrow money at three percent, put that money into a European stability fund, and then lend it to Ireland at six and a half percent – is outrageous.

"What Fine Gael will do," he adds, "is ensure that the debt burden the taxpayer is forced to pay because of private mistakes the banks have made, is minimised. And where possible we will negotiate to force institutions outside Ireland who lent money to Irish banks irresponsibly to take their fair share."

On Ministerial cars, Coveney comments, "If I’m lucky enough to be a Minister in the next government, I won’t accept a Ministerial car. I don’t want one. We’re going to apply the same rationale to the government jet. The government jet should and will be used only when there isn’t a commercial flight option available."

Coveney also talks about the death of his father, Hugh. "Dad was very much the leader. So when the rock on which your whole family structure is built disappears, all of a sudden you’re lost until you can find a direction again."

And on the infamous tweet..! Coveney says, "I suppose I broke the rules of the old boys’ club in Leinster House, and I make no apologies for that, but for me this wasn’t about Fianna Fáil or about Brian Cowen. It was about the Taoiseach, speaking to half a million people on Morning Ireland, without being prepared. I was annoyed because it was a really important time: the Dáil was about to come back and here was the Taoiseach giving an important interview from a think-in which was supposed to be providing solutions, and clearly the interview was way below par."

Read the interview in its entirety, as well as interviews with Gerry Adams, Ivana Bacik, Shane Ross and Dylan Haskins, in the new issue of Hot Press (Liam Gallagher cover), out now.