Simon Coveney accused of negative campaigning

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has been accused of being “panicked” and engaging in negative campaigning by supporters close to Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar.

With the race to succeed Enda Kenny as Taoiseach now effectively on, tensions between the two camps have escalated in recent days.

But Mr Varadkar’s team have accused Mr Coveney of double standards by criticising negative campaigning while engaging in it himself.