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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR this afternoon thanked his fellow parliamentarians for defending him in the media and for supporting him during his speech last night.
Last night, Varadkar apologized at the Dáil for “errors in judgment” after delivering a copy of a negotiated agreement between the Government and the Irish Medical Organization (IMO) to a rival GP group last year.
The Tánaiste was questioned about what prompted him to send the document to Dr. Maitiú Ó Tuathail of the NAGP, someone Varadkar said is a friend but “not a close friend.”
He was also asked about that friendship and the chronology of his contacts, if he had been in contact with Ó Tuathail since the story was published in Village magazine on Saturday, and if he had ever leaked a confidential report before.
At the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, he said it was the first time in almost ten years that he had to do something like this in the chamber, but said it was important for accountability.
In what is described as an off-the-cuff comment, Varadkar warned party members to be careful who they think their friends are, saying politics is getting nastier.
“It was a disaster on my part and I shouldn’t have dragged them into it. Hopefully it’s left behind now, ”he said.
Separately, Varadkar spoke about the American elections and said Joe Biden will be positive for Ireland as someone who has a genuine personal attachment to the country beyond “just a golf course.”
He said that Biden has shown interest in Brexit and its impact on Ireland, particularly what it means for the Good Friday Agreement.
The Taoiseach said he had confidence in the Tánaiste earlier this week. Micheál Martin will face criticism from party deputies tonight about how he defended Tánaiste during the controversy over a leaked document.
At the FG PP meeting this afternoon, Leo Varadkar thanked all those who defended him in the media and supported him while on camera
He says it was the first time in almost 10 years that he had to do something like this on camera, but says it is important for accountability.
– Christina Finn (@ christinafinn8) November 4, 2020
Several TDs from Fianna Fáil have disagreed with the way in which the high figures of the party came out in defense of Tánaiste.
Ahead of the Fianna Fáil party parliamentary meeting tonight, Sligo TD Marc MacSharry has said that he is very unhappy with the way Martin and other Fianna Fáil ministers came out to bat for Varadkar.
He said he is “dismayed” that there is little internal debate within the party about the approach, noting that there are different standards depending on who the protagonists involved are, stating that the government cannot preside over a rule for some and there are no rules for others. pointing out contrasts in the handling of the controversy involving the ministers of Fianna Fáil, Barry Cowen and Dara Calleary.
Another said members were not happy that Fianna Fáil ministers were brought in to defend Varadkar, but said the background was that the party did not want to press the issue, or go to elections on the matter, in light of the results. from recent polls.
Tonight it was learned that the Group of Rural Independents has formally requested the Dáil Procedure Committee to investigate whether the Tánaiste violated any code of conduct for TDs or office holders.
A letter to Ceanna Comhairle signed by Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath states that the group is seeking to have the Procedural Committee review this matter in its entirety and launch an investigation.
“We believe that the actions of Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar TD, when he was Taoiseach, may have violated both the ‘Code of Conduct for Dáil Éireann Members’ and the’ Code of Conduct for Office Holders. We believe that the exposure of the actions of the Tánaiste has destroyed public confidence and, therefore, has had a great impact on the integrity of the Government, ”the letter states.
“This debacle must be thoroughly investigated,” writes McGrath.
During today’s Leaders’ Questions, the co-leader of the Social Democrats Roisin Shortall called on the Taoiseach to undertake an immediate review of the code of conduct for civil servants.
In response, the Taoiseach said that all members had an obligation to adhere to the code of conduct.
She said that Varadkar had “ridiculously” disguised the issue as having a legitimate purpose and “laughing” claimed that he was fulfilling the government’s commitments.
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“This insults the intelligence of the people,” he said.
“I think most people saw this episode for what it was. It was evidently false that the Tanaiste claimed that. He engaged in a deliberate distortion of the truth, ”he said.
Shortall said the Tanaiste engaged in “dirty activity for dirty purposes” by leaking a government document.
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