Varadkar apologises for 'ill-judged' remark about Bill Clinton and interns

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Hillary Clinton at  Georgetown University in Washington DC today. Picture: PA

The Taoiseach has said he regrets "ill-judged" and "off the cuff" comments made at a Washington event which referenced former President Bill Clinton.

Referring to his time spent as an intern in Washington DC, Leo Varadkar told an event that he had worked in Congress during the last year of the Clinton presidency "when parents might have had cause for concern about what happened to interns" in the city.

The latter half of Mr Clinton's presidency was shrouded in controversy over his relationship with his intern Monica Lewinsky.

The comment prompted laughter amongst those at the Washington Ireland Programme gathering which was attended by the Irish Examiner.

While studying medicine, Mr Varadkar took part in the Programme, spending a summer working for then-Congressman Jack Quinn of New York.

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach later said: “At the Washington Ireland Programme event today the Taoiseach was reminiscing about his time in Washington DC as an intern 23 years ago. He made an ill-judged off-the-cuff remark which he regrets. He apologises for any offence caused to anyone concerned.” 

 Mr Varadkar made the comment just hours after sitting beside Mr Clinton's wife Hillary at a conference on women’s role in the peace process held at Georgetown University.

The Taoiseach is today due to meet President Joe Biden in the White House as part of his St Patrick's schedule. It is expected that the President will provide further details on his forthcoming trip to Ireland next month during the meeting.

Earlier this week, President Biden, whose ancestors came from Co Mayo and Co Louth confirmed that he will be visiting both Ireland and Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

President Clinton is also due to visit Belfast next month where he will take part in an international conference to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at Queen’s University.