Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s trip to US delayed

The Taoiseach brought forward his departure to last night to avoid being in the air when the crucial votes in the House of Commons take place tonight but is taking a personal day in the States before his formal programme commences.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to abandon his plans to depart for the US yesterday in order to attend an emergency Cabinet meeting.

Some of his senior team had travelled to Dublin Airport to begin checking in but returned to Government Buildings.