Leo’s ‘regrets’ o ver press attack
After strong criticism Taoiseach says he didn’t mean to suggest he doesn’t support investigative work of media
LEO VARADKAR made a grovelling climbdown yesterday after his astonishing attack on the media at a New York gathering in which he voiced his sympathy for Donald Trump’s anti-media criticism.
When back on Irish soil yesterday, he told the Dáil that he ‘profoundly regrets’ if anyone believes he does not support a free press.
He was strongly criticised, particularly after reports that he aired sympathy for President Trump who has labelled the press the ‘enemy of the US people’. At a question and answer session hosted by the Irish consul general on Monday, Mr Varadkar suggested political journalists are more interested in gossip than the workings of Government and some investigative journalism is wrong, singling out RTÉ for criticism.
The attack prompted stinging rebukes from opposition politicians yesterday, as well as the National Union of Journalists, which said it was ‘bizarre’ that the Taoiseach would align himself with President Trump on the issue.
When he arrived back in the Dáil yesterday for Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused him of attacking investigative journalism and asked for him to clarify his comments.
Ms McDonald said she was sure the Taoiseach understands that the freedom of the press to report in the public interest ‘without coercion, pressure or undue influence is vitally important, and yet he has attacked Irish investigative journalism and he cited RTÉ in particular’.
She said: ‘It is interesting that the Taoiseach cites the very programmes that have exposed scandals such as the hospital waiting lists, the disregard for carers and those with disabilities, the failure of the State and the Taoiseach’s Government to protect children in care, and the failure of his housing policy.’
Mr Varadkar said the private event was with around 20 young Irish people who live in New York. ‘I strongly believe that the free press is essential for democracy to function, it’s important and essential work, and in a free society and in a democracy, the work of a free press is as important as a parliamentary system.
‘That is why I support the work of the news media and I try to be as accessible and as open to the media as I can be and, yes, there are sometimes tensions between Government and media, but that is as it should be. I profoundly regret if anyone in the country thinks that in any way I don’t support the free press, or don’t respect the work of journalists. The free and fair media is a cornerstone of democracy and our freedoms and that’s why it is so important, but it should not consider itself beyond reproach or above criticism.’
He added: ‘There was a conversation about social media and fake news, and it developed from there.’
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the really concerning aspect of his remarks in New York was that the Taoiseach is in sympathy with president Trump’s view of the media.
‘President Trump is probably one of the worst examples of a political leader who regularly demonises the media. The Taoiseach should not have any sympathy with him or his plight with the media.’
‘I try to be as open to media as I can’