Leo goes it alone with Doonbeg contact

NO Fine Gael or Labour minister contacted Fáilte Ireland (FI) over a planning issue since Fine Gael took power in 2011 – except for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The revelation comes after Mr Varadkar claimed his contact with the body in 2014, as tourism minister and on behalf of now US President Donald Trump, was what any tourism minister would do. Fáilte Ireland later made a submission objecting to the Clare windfarm — but his gaffe in admitting the contact while in the US spoiled his St Patrick’s Day visit. Asked if any other ministers had made contact since 2011, a Fáilte Ireland spokesperson said: ‘We have no other records of any ministerial correspondence regarding planning issues.’ Asked about his intervention, a Government spokesperson said: ‘There was no intervention. As Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar received a call from Donald Trump regarding a windfarm proposal near Doonbeg. He passed this on to Failte Ireland as is normal practice for line ministers.’