"Mr. Varadkar needs to be held accountable for his role in damaging the government."
Ógra Fianna Fáil, the party's youth wing, has called for Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to resign after attending the controversial 50-person event at the Merrion Hotel on 21 July organised by former minister Katherine Zappone.
While the Attorney General has stated the gathering did not breach regulations, there have been questions as to whether it breached Fáilte Ireland guidelines in place for the hospitality sector.
Last Friday, Varadkar expressed
"regret" at his attendance at the event, but stated that it was not in breach of the government regulations in place at the time and "probably wasn't in breach" of the Fáilte Ireland guidelines.
While Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accepted Vardakar's explanation of his attendance at the gathering, Ógra Fianna Fáil issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon where it said it was "deeply concerned" by the Tánaiste's recent conduct and that he "must resign".
"Last week, it came to light that there was a private event in Merrion hotel with 50 attendees, including the Tánaiste. This was out of step with the guidelines that the minister is charged with shaping and conveying to the Irish people," the statement read.
"Guidelines from Fáilte Ireland at the time advised gatherings of up to six individuals, and with no mixing between tables. By the Tánaiste's own account, this was not followed. In failing to abide by public health guidelines, Mr. Varadkar has undermined his own authority on matters of public health, but has also undermined fellow government ministers by association.
"Last year, Mr. Varadkar was especially outspoken on the alleged impropriety of fellow politicians breaking guidelines in Clifden, County Galway. Why is such a gross double standard allowed in cases where Mr. Varadkar has a personal interest?"
Ógra Fianna Fáil said that it "cannot reconcile the negligence" of Varadkar with the very important role he holds in government.
"The Tánaiste's actions have undermined the integrity of our institutions at a time when trust in public health advice is a matter of life and death," the statement continued.
"The way he chose to address concerns risks scarring this government as one where the state works to serve one particular individual, rather than the public good. This undercuts faith in the government, and distracts from the good work our Fianna Fáil ministers are undertaking in their own portfolios.
"We have taken the time to assess the impact of recent events and we cannot in good conscience stand by as Mr. Varadkar courts controversy, and believe it would be a mistake that a man with this kind of temperament be made Taoiseach in December 2022.
"In order to serve the country well and to regain trust that has been lost, Mr. Varadkar needs to be held accountable for his role in damaging the government. It is only through proper accountability that we may regain that trust once again, and it is on this basis that we are calling on Leo Varadkar to resign."
JOE has reached out to Fianna Fáil for comment.
Main image via Sasko Lazarov/©RollingNews.ie
