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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been criticized by members of his own party for his handling of the controversy over the Leo Varadkar leak.
At the Fianna Fáil party parliamentary meeting, Mr. Martin was told that there was “disgust” and “anger” over his response to the debacle.
Frank Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry told the Taoiseach that the “credibility of the party was in tatters” because of how he reacted to revelations that Varadkar leaked an unpublished GP contract to his friend, Dr. Maitiu O Tuathail.
MacSharry said there was not a “six-year-old” in the country who “couldn’t see through” what he claimed was the “fairy tale” explanation of the Tánaiste to leak the document.
The sources said that the Sligo-Leitrim TD said at the meeting that there is “palpable anger” among Fianna Fáil members for seeing Martin as a “lead aviator” for Varadkar.
He attacked Mr. Martin for what he claimed was “throwing Barry Cowen and Dara Calleary under the bus” when they were involved in controversies for brief terms as agriculture ministers.
MacSharry criticized Martin for his attacks on Sinn Féin saying that he resorted to speaking out about the Troubles when challenged by Mary Lou McDonald in the storm surrounding the Tánaiste.
He claimed that Martin had “dragged” Fianna Fáil to 11% in the polls and claimed that the party leader was “part of the problem.” He told the Taoiseach that he was “disgusted” with him.
Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill also criticized the party’s support for Varadkar, saying the party was “on its knees.”
Former Minister Cowen, who was fired for a drunken driving offense, said the Taoiseach gave Varadkar due process, but did not.
Cowen said the Tánaiste had not asked him to resign during the controversy and that it was the Taoiseach who removed him from the cabinet.
The Taoiseach has fully supported the Tánaiste since the allegations were first published in Village Magazine last Saturday.
Elsewhere, Varadkar warned his fellow MPs to be careful who they choose as friends amid controversy over his decision to leak an unpublished medical contract.
Speaking at a private party gathering, the Fine Gael leader thanked the TDs and senators who defended him after it emerged that he leaked a confidential document to his GP friend, Dr. Maitiu O Tuathail.
Varadkar said at the meeting that they should be careful who they choose as friends given the controversy sparked by his friendship with Dr. Ó Tuathail.
A Fine Gael source said the Tánaiste “did not even apologize” for the ongoing debacle over the leaked document.
“He just thanked people for interviewing him with the media and said to be careful which friends you choose,” added the source.
Another source said there was little discussion of the controversy at the meeting. However, Kildare North TD Bernard Durkan praised Varadkar’s performance.
During a two-hour barbecue in Dáil, the Tánaiste accused Mr. Ó Tuahtail of “exaggerating” his friend and dismissed suggestions that the GP had special access to him.
He described Mr. Ó Tuathail as “a friend, but not a close friend” and said that he made “several people who was closer to me than him”. That’s a big part of what it’s about. I am not trying to make myself believe that I am some kind of victim. That is simply the fact, ”he added.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told a private Fine Gael meeting that if Joe Biden is victorious in the US presidential election it will be a “positive development” for Ireland.
Varadkar said this was because Democrats and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, supported Ireland during the Brexit process.
In September, Biden issued a warning about the prospect of a trade deal between the US and the UK if there is a return to a hard border.
He said: “We cannot allow the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland to become a victim of Brexit.”
“Any trade agreement between the US and the UK must depend on respecting the Agreement and preventing the return of a firm border. Period.”
Mr. Varadkar also spoke about how Mr. Biden is a friend from Ireland with interests that go beyond a golf course here.
Trump is famous for owning a golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Online editors
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