"Every time the Minister gets an opportunity to speak about this issue she only makes things worse."

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called out Norma Foley in the Dáil, in relation to special needs education and schools reopening. Speaking on Thursday evening, Ó Ríordáin said that Minister for Education Norma Foley has "lost control of the situation" with regards to special needs education. He said: "I have to say, every time the Minister gets an opportunity to speak about this issue she only makes things worse. I'm inclined not to ask any questions because the answers will just make things worse. "It's quite clear that the Minister and the Minister of State have lost control of the situation. Some of her statements are making the situation irretrievable." He then criticised Foley for making a statement announcing schools would reopen on 6 January, when Ireland had the highest infection rate in the world, describing her as being "all over the place". The Labour TD got progressively more animated as he spoke, at one point saying: "None of you in Government have helped this at all. You've made it worse, and you've made it worse. Every interview, every statement, every press release, every speech in this house has just made it worse. "It's as if you decided to pick a side." Foley replied by saying she picked the side of children with additional needs, and that they are her "first priority". The clip, which has been shared widely on social media, can be seen here: https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1352306715513991168?s=20