Music
09 Apr 10

Junior Minister Sean Connick “open-minded” about head shops.

In an interview with Hot Press, the newly appointed Minister, who will be responsible for the Fisheries brief, also reveals that Bob Geldof was his musical hero, argues for a quota of Irish music on radio, and talks about Ireland’s econonic rollercoaster ride.

Regarding the head shop debate, the Junior Minister tells Hot Press, "I’m sort of open-minded on it at the moment … Whether or not we need to ban them, I don’t know yet, but I am open to a wider debate on it. But I think it’s certainly something we need to look at carefully, rather than go in and shut them all down."

Wheelchair-bound since the age of 12 following a traffic accident the day before Elvis Presley died, Connick dabbled in the record industry and admits to being a huge music fan. "I’m a Boomtown Rats man. You know, Bob Geldof was my hero at the time, ‘Looking After No.1’. …. I’m a Glee fan at the moment. Anything musical, I love it!"

Connick also believes there should be a specified quota of Irish music played on Irish radio stations."…the last time I heard Tommy Fleming, or Mary Black, or any of the young up-and-coming Irish bands on radio …. I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard David Kitt played", he says.

To read the full interview with Junior Minister Sean Connick, see the new issue of Hot Press (MGMT cover), out now.