Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Sam Boal

Varadkar praises Martin for 'common sense' leadership as Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar is due to become Taoiseach on Saturday 17 December.

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has paid tribute to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, saying that he lead the country through the pandemic and the war in Ukraine with “common sense” and “decency”.

Addressing the Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone this evening, Varadkar acknowledged that Martin had lead the country well during his two and a half years as Taoiseach.

He thanked him for his work during his keynote speech.

“We’ve shown that we can work with the Green Party, the Labour Party, with Independents, and even with our historic opponents, Fianna Fáil. We can make a coalition work and we can make it last,” Varadkar said.

“Let’s acknowledge tonight that our Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been a good one. Through difficult circumstances, including the later stages of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, he has been a voice for decency, kindness and for common sense. We thank him,” Varadkar said.

Varadkar himself is due to become Taoiseach on 17 December, with a wider Cabinet reshuffle expected alongside the rotation.

492Fine Gael Ard Fheis Tánaiste and Leader of Fine Gael Leo Varadkar on his way to giving his main speech to delegates at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Athlone RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

It’s also expected that Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath will become Finance Minister, while Paschal Donohoe will be rotated into the Department of Public Expenditure.

While Varadkar praised his coalition partners, he was critical of the opposition and particularly of Sinn Féin, calling them “ultra-nationalist”, “populist” and radical left”.

“Fine Gael’s tradition and policies are different to those of Fianna Fáil. But our parties have the maturity to find agreement, to build a consensus with our colleagues in the Green Party and to work together in the service of our country.

“But we can’t work with everyone, and anyone.

“Coming into this campus today, someone asked me would I ever consider going into coalition with Sinn Féin?

“I gave them a clear and unambiguous answer from all of us – No, no way, not a chance.”

He labelled the next General Election as the “most important in a generation” and that Sinn Féin needed to be stopped.

The speech, which was delivered at the first in-person Fine Gael Ard Fheis since before the pandemic, also touched on Ireland’s support for Ukraine.

“The unprovoked war has brought terrible death and devastation to Ukraine, and our response has been unambiguous,” Varadkar said.

“We stand with Ukraine.”

He also spoke about ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour, saying that “far too many” people feel unsafe on the street and in their homes.

“Tonight… we are sending a message to the criminal underworld.

“We will do whatever is necessary to protect our homes and our communities and we will take the fight to you head on.”

The speech, which was broadcast live on RTÉ, comes at the end of the one-day Ard Fheis where delegates rejected motions around providing anti-tank missiles to Ukraine and approved calls for the Government to remove the triple-lock for military missions.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee welcomed Varadkar to the stage in Athlone, saying he is set to “again lead our country with determination and vision”.

Tadgh McNally will be following all the latest events at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Athlone. Get all the updates by following @TadghMcN and @thejournal_ie on Twitter.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
70 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute garretcollins
    Favourite garretcollins
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 3:22 PM

    @ Tal

    It says all viruses.

    Arthritis is not a virus however, it’s an inflammatory disorder.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tal Tallon
    Favourite Tal Tallon
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 2:25 PM

    If it really works, then it could be very good.

    I wonder is it only recently contracted viruses or could it be used against someone who has arthritis for years?

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy
    Favourite Andy
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 7:07 PM

    Since when is Arthritis a virus?

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Murphy
    Favourite Tommy Murphy
    Report
    Aug 12th 2011, 12:28 AM

    What an idiot!!! Give urself a big wet slap in the face

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lenny Sloane
    Favourite Lenny Sloane
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 8:56 PM

    Would be amazing if it can ultimately kill the HIV and Aids virus.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oisín Ó Dálaigh
    Favourite Oisín Ó Dálaigh
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 3:50 PM

    “A new drug called DRACO…”

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane McCarthy
    Favourite Shane McCarthy
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 2:41 PM

    Dangerous stuff. What happens if the bugs become immune, we could all end up being much worse.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Hempenstall
    Favourite Sarah Hempenstall
    Report
    Aug 11th 2011, 4:33 PM

    Looking at the paper; they target the virus by inducing programmed cell death (or apoptosis) in infected cells. The reason bacteria become resistant is that you are killing off the bacteria with a compound that you can tolerate but the bacteria cannot. The problem is that you’ll eventually come up against a bacterium that has innate immunity to a certain antibiotic and won’t be killed. Then it will divide and multiply and produce a big whack of resistant bacteria and, because of something called horizontal gene transfer, they can transfer resistance into bacteria that were not resistant at the start. A bacterium is a cell in and of itself and can reporoduce-a virus can’t. It reproduces ONLY by hijacking the cell it has infected. If what this group in MIT have developed works it will target and kill off infected cells. Since the viral marker they target is dsRNA, something the virus produces as it reproduces, it looks pretty unlikely a virus could ever, ever develop resistance simply because it can’t exist without producing dsRNA. dsRNA is not produced by healthy cells so it looks like a good marker. It’s early days but it looks like an elegant solution to a problem that kills and injures millions. Don’t be so negative and immediately assume we’ll all be worse off!

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Rodgers
    Favourite Colin Rodgers
    Report
    Aug 12th 2011, 10:31 AM

    Pretty sure this is how Zombie Apocalypses start.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian McGuinness
    Favourite Brian McGuinness
    Report
    Aug 12th 2011, 8:36 AM

    This would put a selection pressure on viruses forcing any more virulent mutations to ultimately survive, reproduce and beat anything we can throw at them. In short we’re talking the end of the world here folks. On the bright side, the weather’s supposed to be not too bad for the weekend. Yay!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tal Tallon
    Favourite Tal Tallon
    Report
    Aug 12th 2011, 9:37 AM

    Shit, I meant long term virus’s… Ah well

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds