Varadkar said two weeks ago that State lodge ‘only for work’
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar said he was still living in his apartment but using a Stateowned lodge in the Phoenix Park for work in a radio interview two weeks ago.
In recent days, his spokesperson said Mr Varadkar had been staying in Steward’s Lodge during the “last few weeks” of the pandemic.
He was responding to queries about whether the Taoiseach broke social-distancing rules by picnicking with friends in the Phoenix Park.
On May 13, on ‘The Dermot and Dave Show’ on Today FM, the Taoiseach was asked if he was working from home and he replied: “It’s a bit of a combination, so I’m set up half in the office, half at home.”
He was then asked what the room he is working in is like to which he said: “No, no actually I’ve use of a house on the grounds of Farmleigh.”
However, when one of the hosts said this sounded “very salubrious”, Mr Varadkar said: “I’m still in my flat in Carpenterstown, though.”
The Taoiseach added there was “stuff ” in the State-owned lodge that he doesn’t have at home.
A statement issued by the Taoiseach’s Office when photos of Mr Varadkar in the park emerged said: “The Taoiseach has been in Steward’s Lodge during the last few weeks as it has secure office and videoconferencing facilities, which allows him to work from home.”
The response followed suggestions Mr Varadkar may have breached social-distancing rules by meeting his friends by the Wellington Monument in the Phoenix Park.
The Taoiseach’s apartment in his Dublin West constituency is almost 8km from the monument.
Under the Government’s lockdown rules, the public are prohibited from any non-essential travel beyond a 5km radius from their home.
The area where Mr Varadkar met his friends is not within the radius of the apartment he owns but Steward’s Lodge on the grounds of the Farmleigh estate is within 5km of the monument.
The Taoiseach’s Office has yet to say when Mr Varadkar moved into the State-owned lodge.
However, they have said security is provided by the Taoiseach’s regular Garda security detail, while IT and home office supports are being provided by his department.
No extra staff or domestic services are being provided to Mr Varadkar and his partner
Matthew Barrett during their stay in the four-bedroom Victorian lodge.
The Taoiseach pays a €50 nightly fee to stay in the residence which is available to all Taoisigh.
Former Taoisigh, including Brian Cowen and Enda Kenny, have stayed in Steward’s Lodge during their term in office.
It emerged the Taoiseach was staying there after photographs were circulated on social media of Mr Varadkar and his friends having a picnic in the Phoenix Park.
Last week, Department of the Taoiseach assistant secretary general Liz Canavan urged people not to have picnics during the first phase of the Government’s plan to ease lockdown restrictions.
On Monday, she was asked specifically if people should have picnics and the senior civil servant said she was offering “guidance” and “asking people to use their head”.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said phase one allows for up to four people not from the same household to meet outdoors provided they are physically distancing.
Dr Holohan said none of the pictures he saw of the Taoiseach were “in violation” of this.
The Taoiseach’s spokesperson said he “broke no laws, breached no regulations and observed public health guidance” and said there are no specific government guidelines on picnics.