Leo Varadkar has declined to comment on a video showing him socialising in a nightclub that has gone viral on the internet.
The video sparked a flood of comment and debate online, however, the Tanaiste described it as a “personal matter” which related to his private life and so was separate from his professional life as a politician. Mr Varadkar was appearing at a press launch for his department’s future plans for a more ‘Green and digital’ economy on Wednesday afternoon.
It is understood the video was filmed took place at a gay night in a popular Dublin city centre club last Saturday night. The Tanaiste was asked if he felt this intense level of scrutiny politicians are now under was out of order and if he believed it only worked to discourage people from coming forward to serve in public office.
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Mr Varadkar said in response: “I think it’s very much a personal matter and as you say it does relate entirely to my private life and for those reasons I don’t want to comment on it.”
This is not the first time Mr Varadkar’s private life has hit the headlines. A picture of the country’s most famous politician socialising with friends in Phoenix Park in May 2020 during Covid sent social media into meltdown.
The Taoiseach of the day was pictured topless on a sunny day having a picnic with friends, including his partner, Dr Matt Barrett. There were official warnings against events like picnics at the time, but Mr Varadkar insisted he was careful not to break any lockdown rules around social distancing etc.
Mr Varadkar had been staying in Steward’s Lodge, the official Taoiseach’s residence, on the grounds of Farmleigh House at the time. The then Taoiseach stayed there at different times between May and July 2020 - including for eight nights after Micheál Martin became Taoiseach on June 27th.
Taoisigh are charged €50 per night when they use Steward's Lodge. Mr Varadkar was charged €1,900 for his 38-night stay. Micheal Martin has not used the house since becoming Taoiseach. On another occasion during Covid, in September last year, Mr Varadkar was snapped at a music festival in London, something he couldn’t have done in Ireland at the time as outdoor events were still limited to a maximum attendance of 200 people.
Mr Varadkar is a big Kylie Minogue fan and was so excited about seeing her in concert here in April 2019 that he wrote a letter to her. Using Government-headed paper, the Taoiseach said he was a “huge fan” and asked if he could meet her personally before her gig.
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