If the Tánaiste has broken his own guidelines he needs to follow Phil Hogan’s example - Tóibín

Meath West TD and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has said that if the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar was one of fifty who attended a party in Dublin, he should follow the precedent set in the cases of other politicians who breached Covid guidelines.

Deputy Tóibín was reacting to reports that the Tánaiste attended a private party hosted by Katherine Zappone contrary to public guidelines.

“This is an incredible situation.

"Right now not all partners are allowed attend births and key maternity appointments with mothers. Children around the country are being denied 1st Holy Communions and Confirmations. Funerals and weddings remain restricted. Hospitality businesses are hamstrung by severe restraints, controls and curbs.

"This is having a massive effect on their ability and their workers' ability to make a living. Indeed many hundreds of restaurants and bars have remained shut.

"The government has introduced some of the most draconian legislation in the history of the state and anywhere in Europe - including discriminating against citizens on the basis of if they have taken a vaccine.

“Yet the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar sees fit to attend a social event with 50 guests organised by Katherine Zappone before his Government gifts her a plum job.

"This is a jaw-dropping mix of hypocrisy and cronyism. This is the behaviour of a ruling elite that are telling citizens ‘do as I say and not as I do’.

"The Fáilte Ireland guidelines for hotels and guest houses clearly state that 'organised events, indoor and outdoor, are not permitted' unless they are weddings or 'non-social meetings, training and educational programmes considered essential to the operation of a business'.

"Clearly the Zappone social event does not fall into this situation.

“There is a clear precedent here. Phill Hogan and Dara Calleary both fell on their swords when they broke Covid guidelines. Indeed the Tánaiste himself was not shy in telling Hogan that he had to go. Leo told Hogan ‘to consider his position’. Fine Gael removed the whip from three senators for attending Golfgate. After the leaking of a confidential report to a friend, if the Tánaiste refuses the same fate for himself that he dictated to Hogan, Calleary and the FG Senators, it will prove that the rules don’t apply to him”.