‘Of course they’re nervous about me. I stood my ground’

Independent TD John Halligan is determined not to compromise - no matter what pressure from FG

John Halligan, Minister of State for Training and Skills Picture: Fergal Phillips

John Halligan is uneasy. People tell him to relax, go with the flow and enjoy life. “Nah,” he tells them. He can’t do it. “I can’t change the way I am,” Halligan said. “If I don’t like somebody, I’ll tell them to their face: ‘I don’t fucking like you’.”

The Waterford TD is arguably the most straight-talking politician in Leinster House. But that’s got him into trouble over the past two months, as ...