Varadkar apologises after Belfast ‘overseas’ remark

The taoiseach made his comment during an interview on the Newstalk radio programme.

Mr Varadkar told the show’s host that his party doesn’t have a lot of overseas members, and added: “We do have some overseas members though. We have members in Belfast for example,”

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was one of those who responded. He tweeted: “Out off his depth? All at sea? Or just plain stupid?”

In a statement to The Irish News, Mr Varadkar said: “My sincere apologies to anyone I offended.”

He added: “My sincere apologies to anyone I offended.

“I have crossed the land border dozens of times in my efforts to prevent a hard border and to bring both jurisdictions closer together.

“To clarify, Fine Gael has a Belfast branch and we also have branches overseas like Brussels. The context, which some have neglected to mention, was me defending the right of Green Party and Fine Gael members living in Northern Ireland to have a say on whether we form a government together.”