Irish PM says picnic did not break rules on distancing
LEO VARADKAR has defended his decision to picnic with friends in a Dublin park in apparent contradiction to advice given by a senior Irish government official.
The Taoiseach – Irish prime minister – was photographed with his partner, Matthew Barrett, and two friends in Phoenix Park on Sunday.
A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said the Fine Gael leader “broke no laws, breached no regulations, and observed public health guidance” in the park.
But that appeared to go against advice given in a media briefing last week by the assistant secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach. “If you’re visiting a public amenity, try not to stay too long at the site or have picnics,” Liz Canavan said. “Please exercise, and then go home.”
Mr Varadkar is not the first world leader to be accused of flouting lockdown restrictions. Last week, Alexander Van der Bellen, the Austrian president, apologised after staying at a restaurant beyond the closing time stipulated by the country’s restrictions.
He said he had lost track of time when speaking to friends at an Italian restaurant in the centre of Vienna. “I’m sincerely sorry.” he said. “I went out for the first time since the lockdown with two friends and my wife. We then lost track of the time while chatting.”
Commentators have argued that both world leaders set a bad example by being flexible in their approaches to
‘Guidelines allow people to spend time in the outdoors within 5km of homes. There are no guidelines on picnics’
lockdown. However, a statement from Mr Varadkar’s office released on Monday night argued the opposite. “Government guidelines allow people to spend time in the outdoors within 5km [3.1 miles] of their homes while continuing to observe social distancing and good hygiene,” it said. “There are no specific government guidelines on eating outdoors or picnics.”
Mr Varadkar’s office added that Phoenix Park was within 5km of his official residence on the Farmleigh Estate where he has been living “during the last few weeks”.
The pictures emerged as Ireland reported nine new deaths, and 37 more cases were confirmed, bringing the death toll to 1,615 and the total number of cases to 24,735.