After 11 days of chaos & scandal is Leo fit to run the country?
»Taoiseach and boyfriend relax with gym session... »As Ireland braces itself for yet another election
HE spent the morning working out at the gym – and Taoiseach may need all his strength if the country goes to the polls after summer.
Leo Varadkar and partner Matthew Barrett looked every inch the relaxed couple making their way home before heading to the Gay Pride parade.
But as the fallout from the Maire Whelan controversy rumbled on bookies slashed the odds of an October vote to just 11/4.
Deputies have insisted the country’s new leader needs a lesson in humility.
And he faced accusations of trying to goad Fianna Fail and its leader Micheal Martin into going to the polls. Limerick TD and former minister Willie O’dea told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I think he’s made a very bad start. I think he wants to provoke us into an election, but he doesn’t want to be the one to call it.
“It’s repairable but it can’t be all our side, there can’t be all take and no give.
“It’s confidence and supply and that means there has to be give and take on both sides.
“We have 90% of our candidates ready to run if an election was called tomorrow.”
The Ms Whelan controversy has dominated Mr Varadkar’s first two weeks in office amid accusations of arrogance. People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny said: “The rumour around the Dail is that we will definitely have an early election. “It could all fall apart in September. I think most TDS are already on election alert anyway.” The Fine Gael leader found himself under fire this week after he appointed fewer female ministers than predecessor Enda Kenny. On Friday he defended his decision to appoint seven women out of 35 Cabinet and junior minister roles, insisting: “I don’t think diversity is just about gender. “I think other things matter too, and we do have a very diverse Cabinet.” Speaking in Brussels on Thursday Mr Varadkar reached out to Fianna Fail and pledged to do more in coming weeks to mend relations between the parties.
But he insisted Fine Gael did not have to consult with Fianna Fail about appointing judges under their arrangement – and refused to apologise.
Mr Varadkar also came in for criticism for creating a new “super junior minister” post for Mary Mitchell O’connor with a €16,000 pay rise.
Kildare Fianna Fail TD Fiona O’loughlin said: “It’s fair to say that Leo Varadkar has shown arrogance. I wonder how he feels himself about it?
“Leo did promise change and he promised more equality and we most certainly have not seen that.
“I personally believe that people should be promoted based on their ability as opposed to gender.
“But no doubt there are talented women within the Fine Gael party and based on their own talent they would have deserved a place in both the
Cabinet and in the administrative positions. It must be a disappointment for the country in general.”
In his first fortnight in office Mr Varadkar has faced down opposition over gender balance, the judiciary and accusations of Cabinet cronyism.
The storm over the appointment of former Attorney General Ms Whelan to the Court of Appeal – approved during Mr Kenny’s last days in office – shows no signs of abating.
Speaking to Claire Byrne on RTE radio yesterday Fianna Fail’s Sean Fleming acknowledged relations had been “strained” between the parties. Mr Varadkar’s leadership style is in contrast to Mr Kenny’s and his every move has been under scrutiny.
In coming weeks he will face further difficulties as the abortion issue lands on his desk, the Garda Commissioner controversy rumbles on and Brexit negotiations continue. On Friday the Taoiseach attended the Ireland Funds dinner where he outlined plans for Ireland to have a seat on the UN Security Council.
Last night Fianna Fail TD Darragh O’brien, who was elected to Fingal County Council on the same day as Mr Varadkar 10 years ago, warned his arrogance could prove his downfall.
He said: “I like Leo, but he has been acting in an arrogant way. He is very stubborn, he does believe he’s right every time. He will need to smooth some of those rough edges that he has.”