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We asked Leo Varadkar if he finds it hard to keep his mouth shut...

The Health Minister has been telling TheJournal.ie about his reputation for being a straight talker.

LEO VARADKAR HAS cultivated a reputation for being a straight-talker whose comments have sometimes landed him in trouble with his party and his cabinet colleagues.

Only this week the Health Minister reignited the abortion debate when he described Ireland’s current laws, and specifically the 8th Amendment, as too restrictive. It was a surprise intervention but not the first this year.

In March Varadkar was widely-praised for defying his former cabinet colleague Alan Shatter and describing the garda whistleblowers as “distinguished”. Then he was reportedly ‘slapped down’ in September after suggesting budget tax cuts could amount to an ‘extra fiver or tenner’ in people’s pockets.

So when he came into TheJournal.ie earlier this week (prior to his abortion comments) we asked Varadkar if he found it hard to keep his mouth shut:

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

The Fine Gael TD also drew criticism for comments on the day of the recent water charges protest in Dublin when he said it “really bothered” him that people were demonstrating over €3 a week when there were much bigger problems.

In the course of a wide-ranging interview at our offices in Dublin this week, we asked the minister if he regretted the remarks:

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Leo: It really bothers me that people are protesting about €3 a week, we’ve much bigger problems

Read: Would Leo be a better leader than Enda? We asked this Fine Gael TD (four times)

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45 Comments
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:10 AM

    Leo ‘The Lip’ Varadkar would want to be very very careful he doesn’t get a nasty infection from all the shit he spouts…..

    125
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    Mute Boo!-Fight the Board
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:41 AM

    The standout politician in Ireland.

    120
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    Mute Bryan Holmes
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:56 AM

    We’re Donald Ducked then!

    86
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    Mute little jim
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:04 AM

    Standout in a media sense, give me an example of any achievements he has made. Anything at all.

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    Mute Peter Pan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:11 AM

    If you mean stand out in a bad way the yes he is.

    46
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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:40 AM

    It’s just because he is not in his 60s and that the media paint him as some sort of young protege. Leo has brought about F all change in the HSE since he took the ministerial position and is all talk no action.

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:25 AM

    Depends on what way you think he stands out Boo. Personally I think he is good at pretending to care. He would be nothing but bad news as a Taoiseach.

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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:09 AM

    That man loves the sound of his own voice, unfortunately for the rest of us.

    113
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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:22 AM

    Best politician in the Dail will make a great Taoiseach.

    111
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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:30 AM

    I expect the shinnerbots to arrive soon and tell about the sun shining out of Gerry’s or Mary Lou’s ass.

    78
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    Mute Peter Pan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:09 AM

    Thankfully FG will soon be back in opposition for they next decade where the belong.

    They were given the biggest slam dunk In the history of politics by FF and all they had to do was not be a bunch of arrogant gits but a leopard can’t change its spots

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:23 AM

    Well let’s see what he will do in the health portfolio before giving him that honour.

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:32 AM

    Deluded

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:34 AM

    Alan health has taken a hammering. It seems to me Leo spends more time worrying about the water issue than the crumbling health service

    12
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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:45 PM

    Just because people don’t like FG they are shinnerbots. How?

    8
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    Mute Snorre N Skalagrimmerson
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:21 AM

    All talk no action narcissist

    92
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    Mute fergusOB
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:08 AM

    Tape usually works

    88
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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:42 AM

    Usually when Enda tells him to

    29
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    Mute Peter Grimes
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:05 AM

    A basket of chicken wings might solve the problem,there’s plenty of room for a couple of turkey legs too.

    21
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    Mute Fran Cowzer
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:18 AM

    In fairness to Leo it’s hard to empathise with people cribbing about €3 a week he only earns a six figure salary and when they are booted out of office he goes back to being a Doctor so give him a break arm or leg you decide answers On a postcard

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:34 AM

    As a politician who could earn more in his own profession as a doctor, it gives me hope that he is genuinely in it as a true public servant, not just a job which pays more than he got before

    33
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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:41 AM

    I’d be a politician over a doctor. No pressure, massive expenses make up the salary difference and generally an all round cushy number.

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:28 AM

    Fran don’t forget his cushy ministerial pension. A few families could live on that alone.

    19
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    Mute Martin Stapleton
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:04 AM

    How long was it before he answered?

    59
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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:20 AM

    He could be leader some day it may be a long time yet

    42
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Dec 21st 2014, 2:11 PM

    If Leo was a lollipop he would lick himself.

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    Mute One Human Being
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:36 AM

    It’s nice that the journal can invite these sincere honest politicians into their offices to get the truth out of them. It turns out they love a government friendly journalists and will use the journal to advertise/canvas for them because they can sound so sincere. Every promise should be believed from these forthright open people especially Leo he doesn’t speak from both sides of his mouth and isn’t out to try save his skin in the next election. He won’t use some of his advertising budget for the HSE to advertise in the journal. Would he?

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    Mute Martin Hayes
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    Dec 21st 2014, 9:27 AM

    The quintessential Tory, out of place in a modern democracy but a model of FG policy formers. For a doctor he has all the concern for his fellow man as a Ghadaffi or Hussein.

    44
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    Mute littleone
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:01 AM

    Overcrowded hospitals. Understaffed hospitals, services closed , and more , its easy to be a talker and say it as you see it. Problem with Leo ,he is he minister of health and under his watch the health service is in a shambles. So less talking and less media and more action is needed. What has he achieved.

    39
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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:24 AM

    Not a problem when he’s asleep

    35
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    Mute Duncan Paul
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:29 AM

    The journal and Leo up a tree…….

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    Mute Richard Lee Kin
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:08 AM

    Lovely set of teeth , he should smile more

    31
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    Mute Prince of Burren
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:55 AM

    Wish there were more people like him in the Dail, sick of listening to muppets insulting our intelligence

    63
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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Dec 21st 2014, 8:58 AM

    Mind they would bite the hand off you,for your vote

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:36 AM

    Prince he is a total sleveen make no mistake.

    16
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    Mute jim bob
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    Dec 21st 2014, 10:29 AM

    There is a village somewhere missing an idiot – preferably one in Canada will soon have that issue resolved – bye bye blueshirt !

    27
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    Mute Peter Pan
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:02 AM

    You never know, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if either Burton or Leo were to lose their seats In west Dublin.

    15
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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Dec 21st 2014, 7:42 PM

    Anything is possible with the anger over the water charges debacle..

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    Mute BERTIE
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:50 AM

    Dirtbag

    8
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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:41 PM

    Varadkar is a hit n run soundbite merchant. Loves media attention. There’s no depth. It’s like ” where’s the beef”! He should stick to his own portfolio. His comment on 3 euro a week payment for Irish Water was really shallow. What about the crazy call out charges, bonus culture, redundant water meters, cronyism, privatisation, nepotism, and the stress inflicted on many struggling people, young and old, by the whole Irish Water saga, where people were wondering if they could afford a shower , boil a kettle, have a bath, wash the kids, and generally use water in everyday requirements. The King has no clothes, and he’s Marie Antoinette’s husband!

    7
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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Dec 21st 2014, 12:48 PM

    Johnny the meters aren’t redundant. They will use them. Once the cap is lifted the cost of water, like everything else in this country will go up and up. That’s why people are marching. It will be privatised and it will be unaffordable for sections of society.

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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:41 PM

    Ok. But that’s assuming Irish Water survives!

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Dec 21st 2014, 11:59 AM

    Never mention in the media that the great Leo the loin spent time as a intern with me bush and his party in the good ould USA and who said maggie was just a great lady altogether

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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Dec 21st 2014, 1:43 PM

    “3-Euro-a week-Leo”
    Shure why complain about a pittance like that Leo when we ought to be asking ourselves why we pay thousands of Euros every year to private health insurance companies.?

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    Mute Sandra Clifford
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    Dec 22nd 2014, 12:49 AM

    Verbal diarrhoea comes to mind

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