Leo Varadkar comments on nightclub video: "Everyone makes errors in judgement"

Tanáiste Leo Varadkar has commented on the video that circulated of him last week in a nightclub, stating that he is confident he has the backing of his party but that everyone makes “errors in judgement.”

“You wouldn't be a human being if you didn't,” continued Varadkar, when questioned if he had faith in his own judgement calls.

His remarks follow reports of unease within Fine Gael about recent controversies that have involved the Tanáiste, including said video.

This has come just days before Varadkar is due to resume his post as Taoiseach, taking over from Micheál Martin.

“I'm confident in my judgement,” said Leo Varadkar, speaking on the controversy. “I am confident that I have the support of my parliamentary party and the other coalition partners in Government.” “That will be obviously decided on Saturday,” he added.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme launch at Project Arts Centre. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Mr Varadkar has assured people that he will give 100% to his upcoming position as he prepares to take over from Mr Martin.

“I hope that when it has come to the big calls, whether it was the management of the pandemic, whether it was Brexit, whether it was managing the economy, that I've made the right decisions.”

“There's nothing I will put ahead of the responsibilities of holding that office. I have held it before and I know what it takes. I'm committed to doing it again,” he added.

Meanwhile, Micheál Martin when speaking to Newstalk, had this to say on the video scandal: “I think, first of all, Leo Varadkar’s life, my life, everyone’s private life is their private life and I do not in any way shape or form condone any breach of that privacy. I think it is wrong, in my view, to be breaching that privacy in terms of filming people in a social context.”

He continued, “I think that is wrong. The breach of privacy that is involved there.”

Varadkar also echoed these feelings when previously shutting down questions on the video, declining to comment on it until now.

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