Varadkar tells men-only lunch courage is needed to make future equal for all

The transport minister has told a men-only lunch at an Irish society event in the United States that courage is needed to make the future equal for all including gay and straight and male and female.

Leo Varadkar was speaking at a meal organised by the Hibernian Society in Savannah, Georgia, on St Patrick’s Day — an event boycotted by Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore last year because it is men-only.

Mr Varadkar attended the Hibernian lunch, but used his speech to tell the male audience about his vision for the future of Ireland.