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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has defended his and Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s attendance at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, telling the Dáil that he stayed “in a four star hotel” for the duration.
During Leaders’ Questions today, People Before Profit TD Mick Barry enquired about the cost of the trip and and joked that it was unlikely that Varadkar had “slept in a car”, a reference to reports of TDs sleeping in cars due to a lack of hotel rooms in Dublin
Both Martin and Varadkar attended the summit in the Swiss alpine resort this week, which has returned following a two-year Covid-enforced hiatus.
Martin spoke at a panel event alongside fellow EU leaders and Varadkar also spoke at an event about the future of work. Both also conducted media interviews with international outlets.
Earlier this week, People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy TD said it was “questionable” whether it was required for both Taoiseach and Tánaiste to attend.
Today, Barry went further and enquired Varadkar’s accommodation arrangements during the summit:
So you’re back from the luxury ski resort. I’m sure you didn’t do a Eugene Murphy and sleep in the back of a car. I’m curious to know how much the rooms cost in Davos this year? And what was the all in price of the trip?
The Cork North Central TD also asked the Tánaiste whether an increase in the minimum wage would be appropriate to help people deal with the rising cost of living.
Responding to the question about Davos, Varadkar responded that the attendance of both leaders at the summit was an important opportunity for the country and he added that he “flew commercial” to the event:
I spent Monday and Tuesday in Davos representing the country at the World Economic Forum, I was happy to do so. The Taoiseach is there now. I think it’s important that we are represented, it gives us an opportunity to tell our story, whether it’s in relation to the Protocol, whether it’s in relation to what’s happening in Northern Ireland, whether it’s in relation to our own economy.
He added: “I flew commercial and stayed in a four star hotel and no doubt, they charged for it, but it was nonetheless a four star hotel and a commercial flight.”
Varadkar was also asked during Leader’s Questions about the decision of Paypal to cut over 300 jobs from its operations in Dundalk and in his constituency in Dublin.
Varadkar said it was a matter “of great regret” that Paypal had made the decision but that he had spoken to the company and was told that it “remains committed” to the remainder of its 2,000 employees in Ireland.
“I have received an assurance from the company that the redundancy package that they offer will be a good one. I don’t know the details of that yet but I will be following up on that matter because I think it is important that if there are in our letting people go that they get a decent redundancy package to help them get on with their lives,” he said.
Varadkar added that he does not believe the job losses are representative of the wider employment picture in the country as a whole.
“We are approaching full employment in Ireland, which is a job for everyone who wants one. I think that’s a very positive thing,” he said.
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This is not a story. Move on.
@Ian McDonald: couldn’t agree more.
Yeah in fairness I cannot stand Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael but this is a non-story… If Varadkar hadn’t been speaking at the event I’d argue otherwise but he was there to take part so it wasn’t just a jolly jaunt.
Why he is forced to defend this trip is beyond me. Only lazy journalism can explain it, just looking for a quick headline. With all the difficulties we have at the moment it’s essential that our views as a country are represented at the highest level.
@Michael Drennan: just wait….they’ll be posting against the trip soon.
So PBP are forcing the government to defend their actions in representing the country…..maybe PBP should actually start by defending their own actions the day Zelenskyy addressed them. After all, between them, Wallace and Daly, they are representing the country in an embarassing light!
@Joe_embarrassing light to who,all war mongers must be exposed , wouldn’t you agree Joey ..
@jim dee: let me guess…..another lad who thinks the west is responsible for everything…
Russia is ordering it’s troops to deliberately target civilians. There are mass graves with hundreds of bodies being found weekly, and you lot are deflecting attention away from it, by going on about how western troops are doing it as well.
Go learn the differences in what is happening. Where western troops are involved, it usually where some unfortunate has lost their mind and goes on a rampage. Now does that sound familiar? It should, there has been 3 very similar attacks in America itself in the last week and a half or so.
Yes, there are civilians being killed, I’m not denying that, but you lot are making it sound as if the US and NATO are going in guns blazing killing thousands. Well, tell you what, theres another commentator on here, Roy is name…..look up my replies to him. Could not be arsed dealing with you lot now
Slow news day
Paul Murphy needs to go back to sleep
What next for Paul Murphy? Taoiseach and Tánaiste to crawl to work? Or maybe they could stop eating as that’s clearly on taxpayer money as well.
Murphy, please leave politics. You are simply ruining effective opposition with your student union, jump on any bandwagon type of tabloid nonsense. We can do so much better than this.
If this is what’s is going on in the Dail,then we are more fuxked than I thought,as a Country our societies are so broken,that an awful lot of work needs to be done,and then problem was bad before Covid,now everyone is been badly affected,and he thinks it’s OK to waste time asking about a flight and hotel,
It must have been a torment in a 4star
Just waiting on FG/FF/GREEN Trolls.. FG/FF/GREEN Pandemic Travel now re-opens
@Maurice Frazer: I’d say it will be the opposite,the Country is on its knees,and PBP thinks that bringing up a flight and hotel,and waste the time in the Dail,it’s not that they are sitting every day for hours,u need to talk about the urgency of how badly working can’t make ends me.just goes to show,PBP they are constantly saying how the cost of living is affecting their Constituance.there is not 1 person in that government whether ur the parties in power,or the opposition,have a clue how hard it is
What’s he even doing there in the first place.a total waste of a space
Why did he and Martin both go.
have your say