“A free, fair and balanced media is a cornerstone of democracy.”
Leo Varadkar has apologised for his recent remarks about the way in which Irish political reporters conduct themselves.
The Taoiseach came under fire earlier this week when his off-the-record comments recorded at a private lunch in New York stating that he sympathised with President Donald Trump’s view on the media were made public.
Trump has frequently declared certain stories to be “fake news” and his relationship with the media has been extremely combative.
Allegedly in response to this, the Taoiseach stated that Irish media was not interested in the truth but in the story, claiming that political journalists were far more interested in gossip rather than Government workings.
He singled out national broadcaster RTÉ in particular.
In a two-part tweet on Wednesday evening, backing up a speech he made at Dáil Éireann earlier that day, Varadkar apologised for his remarks, writing about the importance of freedom of speech and democracy.
I profoundly regret if anyone thinks that in any way I do not support a free press or respect the work of journalists. A free, fair and balanced media is a cornerstone of democracy and our freedoms and that is why it is so important.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) July 4, 2018
“As I said in the Dáil earlier today, I strongly believe that the free press is essential for democracy to function.” he wrote.
“It is important and essential work and in a free society and a democracy is as important as the parliamentary or courts system. I profoundly regret if anyone thinks that in any way I do not support a free press or respect the work of journalists.
“A free, fair and balanced media is a cornerstone of democracy and our freedoms and that is why it is so important.”
His tweets and comments have since been heavily criticised on Twitter.
There would, of course, be no profound regret if Varadkar hadn't been found out in the first place.
These were deliberate pro Trump comments made in full knowledge of the absence of the media.— Robert (@Eintrachtrob) July 4, 2018
Taoiseach. Do you regret saying it, or do you regret that we understood what you clearly said? I believe it was a flippant, even exasperated remark, but sympathising with Trump in any way is not a message Ireland wants you sending out as our representative.
— Ash (@Aisling_Pash) July 4, 2018
The real issue is…..will @realDonaldTrump retweet this???
Drop the PR glaze you’ve applied to everything. Do more real things. Or resign if you can’t.
— why? (@tbcire) July 4, 2018
Fine Gael issued a response to Varadkar’s comments on Wednesday, stating that his words were “taken out of context”.
A number of political figures have also chimed in on the Taoiseach’s statements, including Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who penned a press release criticising Varadkar’s comments.
“Whatever about criticising the media when at home on the campaign trail, for Ireland’s Head of Government to attack the Irish media when on a diplomatic and strategic trade mission is wholly inappropriate,” Howlin said.
He was also critical of the government for spending “millions on the government’s now abandoned spin-unit, testing slogans let ‘Let Leo Lead On,’ or now denigrating Irish journalists who had faithfully chronicled his bid to get Ireland a UN security Council seat.”
The Taoiseach was in New York as part of Ireland’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the Taoiseach’s spokesperson said that Mr Varadkar was speaking at a private event which aimed to highlight the work done by young Irish people in New York who worked across a range of sectors.
He also said that the conversation was being “quoted selectively and out of context” and the Taoiseach “believes that a free, fair and balanced press is a cornerstone of our democracy”.
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