Donegal Sinn Féin Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has responded to comments by Donegal Fine Gael TD and Minister, Joe McHugh, hailing Leo Varadkar’s “commitment” to Donegal.
Education Minister Richard Bruton and Tanáiste Frances Fitzgerald announced that they would not be competing – making the campaign to replace Enda Kenny as the head of Fine Gael a two horse race.
Current Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney are currently campaigning for nominations to replace Kenny.
However, Senator Mac Lochlainn has displayed incredulity towards claims by Minister Joe McHugh that Varadkar would be “committed” to Donegal, and has criticised Varadkar’s “track record” as Minister for Transport and Minister for Health.
Leo Varadkar
Senator Mac Lochlainn said:
“Minister McHugh’s comments are just plain nonsense. Leo Varadkar has been no friend to Donegal. As Fine Gael opposition spokesperson on Transport, he opposed the Irish Government co-funding the A5 dual carriageway, linking Donegal to Dublin.
“Then as Minister for Transport, he ensured that funding was withdrawn from this vital project for Donegal and the North West of Ireland.
“I also witnessed at first hand, Leo Varadkar’s so called “commitment” to Donegal when he rejected out of hand any funding from his Department for the Greencastle to Magilligan ferry when a delegation of local council officials and public representatives travelled to Dublin to meet him”.
“As Minister for Health, he oversaw the continuation of the crisis in our health service for two years. Here in Donegal, thousands of our people were on hospital waiting lists and hospital trollies under his watch every year.
If Minister McHugh and his Fine Gael colleagues want to back Leo Varadkar as the next leader of their party, then that is fair enough but please don’t take the people of Donegal for fools as to the reasons why. I say it again. His track record speaks for itself. Leo Varadkar has been no friend to the people of Donegal”.
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