A trip to Lourdes is starting to look like Leo’s best bet
GEORGE Orwell would have had a field day if he were still alive to write an Irish version of Animal Farm.
Leo Varadkar appears to be in a sticky situation now Micheal Martin’s egg-timer with the word “Taoiseach” stamped on it is running out of sand.
The Tanaiste spent this week on the airwaves pouring sand on the fire over the “Leo The Leak” controversy.
Once again, Varadkar insisted there was no harm, no “fowl” with him being the little birdie that leaked a copy of an agreement between his government and the Irish Medical Organisation to a doctor friend with the rival GP group NAGP in 2019.
But the real question is: What happens if there’s still an ongoing Garda investigation into Varadkar when he takes over as Taoiseach in December? Political leaders normally vacate the Taoiseach’s office with their tail between their legs.
But Varadkar could become the first incoming Taoiseach with a cloud over his head.
He would need a miracle to keep himself up on his high horse if the Director of Public Prosecutions pressed criminal charges.
He will have to put all those eggs that are now in one basket for political survival on a Ryanair flight to Lourdes.
The smug Fine Gael leader only has himself to blame for being frequently landed in hot water.
Enda Kenny may have ended up with egg on his face more times than some of us have had a hot meal.
But, in fairness, the Mayo man never came to the guards’ attention over so much as a parking ticket.
Any self-serving politician would need more than Miracle Whip to make Joe Public swallow the idea of it being kosher to have a Taoiseach-in-waiting facing criminal charges.
Such an international embarrassment – one that could even surpass the British
The smug Fine Gael leader only has himself to blame
police investigation into Bojo’s lockdown bashes at No10 – would have us all sick as parrots. Varadkar said his “understanding” is that the probe is “close to conclusion”. However, he also conceded in the next breath: “But I’ve heard that for quite some time from my solicitor. “I haven’t had any direct contact from the Garda since last April.” The DPP’S website makes it clear that it “will generally make a decision within a few weeks” with regards to “straightforward” cases. This one must not be so open and shut. The red tape culture prevalent in Ireland is one of my pet peeves.
But the DPP is obligated to carefully examine every shred of evidence with a fine-tooth comb.
Such a serious case cannot be swept under the carpet.
A week may be a long time for political animals, particularly those of the two-faced variety.
But our wheels of justice have a bad habit of turning slower than a three-toed sloth.
It would therefore be hard to imagine any hypothetical court case being heard before 2023.
Varadkar’s goose would be cooked if that were to happen, even with due process. It would only distract from government business.
You could safely bet the farm on it resulting in a FG leadership contest.
Otherwise “the party of law and order” would be flogging a dead horse in the next election race.
My gut instinct is that the DPP won’t press charges, but its office should not drag its heels.
Varadkar’s bacon might well be saved.
But Fine Gael won’t be at the races with such an unpopular leader still in the saddle come the next General Election.
Mary Lou already looks to be home and hosed.