Varadkar defends flying from NY to Miami for less than 20 hours 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's flight to Florida and return to New York will cost approximately 16,439 metric tonnes of carbon. Picture: Brian Lawless

The Taoiseach has defended his last-minute decision to break away from UN week in New York to fly to Miami for less than 20 hours.

Leo Varadkar flies to the Florida city later today, where he will officially open the Irish consulate, which has been operational since last year.