A Labour Minister of State for Carlow-Kilkenny walked out of a live debate on local radio last night saying she was 'fed up with the bloody lot of ye'.

Ann Phelan was taking part in a debate with other election candidates on KCLR.

As the discussion turned to the withdrawal of bus services from rural areas, things got heated:

The debate was being chaired by KCLR's Matt O Keeffe and Eimear ní Bhraonáin.

After accusations from the other participants that she bore responsibility for bus services in the region Phelan became exasperated, saying: 

"I am just going to give up now. I came to this debate... I've been completely ignored and I'm fed up of the whole bloody lot of you."

With that, she took off her microphone and walked out of studio.