No diplomatic complaint over St Patrick's Day video: Bishop

It may have irked the Irish Prime Minister, but Julie Bishop has yet to receive a diplomatic complaint about Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day video.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop in Perth on Sunday, March 15, 2015. Ms Bishop was commenting on  Indonesia's plans to execute drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.(AAP Image/Angie Raphael) NO ARCHIVING

Foreign minister Julie Bishop (AAP Image/Angie Raphael)

It may have irked the Irish Prime Minister, but Julie Bishop has yet to receive a diplomatic complaint about Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day video.

Mr Abbott has been criticised for saying he regretted not being able to share a Guinness or two "and maybe even three".

According to reports, his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he didn't agree with Mr Abbott's perception that Ireland was synonymous with alcohol.

Asked whether the Irish ambassador had raised the issue with her, the foreign minister told reporters in Canberra she had not had a complaint "about a conspicuous consumption of alcohol".

Meanwhile, Coalition politicians have joined in the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the wake of the “patronising” video message.

Defence Minister Kevin Andrews took to social media, tweeting a photo of himself holding a can of Guinness with the caption “too early?”.

Assistant Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham has promoted his apt wardrobe choices – a green tie – on Twitter.
Their celebrations follow the public backlash over Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s St Patrick’s Day video, which has also been criticised for its similarity to his 2014 video message.
With AAP.


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