Varadkar defends his action over Coveney’s State car
TANAISTE Leo Varadkar has defended a decision to allow his predecessor Simon Coveney to keep a State car and two Garda drivers.
It comes amid controversy over Mr Coveney retaining the vehicle, at a cost of €200,000 per year. Fine Gael cited his frequent trips to Northern Ireland.
Previously only the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and justice minister were designated a car.
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made a request for a State car for Mr Coveney while he was still in the role.
Irish Labour leader Alan Kelly asked how Mr Varadkar, as Taoiseach of the last Irish government, made a request for a state car for a minister in a government that had not yet been formed.
Mr Varadkar told the Dail that it has long been security protocol that the Foreign Affairs Minister needs Garda transport when going to Northern Ireland.
He said: “There is no mystery and conspiracy here, Deputy, and you can try to exaggerate it.
“There are particular security protocols when it comes to the Minister for Foreign Affairs travelling to Northern Ireland.
“Whenever the minister travels there, that person has to have a Garda car and Garda protection.
“They are then met by the PSNI at the border to be escorted through Northern Ireland.
“That has been security protocol for the past 20 years.
“The Tanaiste is usually also Foreign Affairs Minister so this has not been an issue.
“However It did happen on occasion when the Minister for Foreign Affairs was not the Tanaiste and they needed civilian drivers when they were south of the border and then had a Garda car when in Northern Ireland.
“When I knew I was going to be the Tanaiste of this new Government and there was going to be a new Foreign Affairs Minister, I asked the Secretary General to look into the matter and decide what was appropriate.
“That was the beginning and end of my involvement in it.”