Varadkar stands over criticism of FitzGerald

FINE Gael’s poster boy Leo Varadkar has stood over his criticism of party hero, ex-taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, but admitted his comments were over the top.

In a Dáil contribution on Tuesday, he had praised Fianna Fáil taoisigh, Seán Lemass and Jack Lynch, but criticised the incumbent Brian Cowen for being too like Dr FitzGerald.

He said Mr Cowen would soon be writing boring articles in the Irish Times, a reference to Dr FitzGerald’s weekly column.

After facing a barrage of criticism, Mr Varadkar said this had not been a fair comparison but he still did not rate Dr FitzGerald’s performance as leader of coalition governments in the 1980s.

“I stand over my criticism of Garret FitzGerald’s performance as taoiseach and his ongoing criticism of Fine Gael, but what I said in the Dáil was over the top.

“Garret was not responsible for the crisis in the ’80s. Cowen is responsible for the one now,” he said via text message.

Earlier he had been left out on a limb by his party colleagues. Transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said his comments were “disgraceful”.

Deirdre Clune, who supports Mr Varadkar in the party’s enterprise and innovation brief, said Dr FitzGerald’s legacy was immense.

“I do not agree with what Leo said. Garret FitzGerald was a leader of a very good government.

“And for Fine Gael this really attracted so many new members. There are still branches that were set up because of Garret that are active today,” she said.

Senator Eugene Regan said the comments of his party’s enterprise spokes- man were “ill-informed”.

“Garret FitzGerald was not only an exceptional person after he left politics, he was an exceptional Taoiseach of this country,” he said.

Dr FitzGerald was not available to comment on the controversy.

However, Dr Varadkar’s leader, Enda Kenny, stood by him.

Mr Kenny, who has previously had Mr FitzGerald’s commentaries on Fine Gael policy thrown back at him, said everybody in Fine Gael was entitled to their opinion.

“Enda believes the party is big enough and bold enough to allow people express personal opinions. And Leo Varadkar was expressing a personal view,” a spokesman said.

Lucinda Creighton – who along with Varadkar represents the younger wing of Fine Gael’s parliamentary party – said her colleague should clarify the situation to the Dáil because Dr FitzGerald was revered by the party and the general public.

She said having spoken to Mr Varadkar yesterday she believed he made a “grave error”.

“Coming from Dublin South East, where Garret served as a TD and a Taoiseach, I know people were upset about the remarks but I think we need to move on now.

“I think that Leo should make a statement in the Dáil. I know he regrets it and he needs to put that on the record,” she told RTÉ.