Varadkar: I’m neither sexist nor ignorant

I AM neither sexist nor ignorant. Jane Dignam (Letters, January 30) got the wrong end of the stick.

Clearly she neither heard nor read my speech. Nor did she bother to contact me to check the facts.

Rather, her letter is a reaction to an article in another paper which has since been clarified.

I wish to restate my support for favourable treatment for families and for stay-at-home spouses.

I do not, however, believe single people should be treated less favourably than married couples where there are no dependent children involved – a situation that will be exacerbated if the taxation advantages of marriage are extended to civil partners. These views are my own.

In the meantime, Ms Dignam should read the Irish Examiner instead of the other paper.

Leo Varadkar TD

Leinster House

Kildare Street

Dublin 2