McDonald hits out at Varadkar's 'take a holiday' comment
Sinn Féin's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has today criticised comments made by Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar, who said people will still have money after the upcoming Budget to take a holiday.
Speaking at a tourism conference in Dublin, the Minister said that incomes will remain untouched, meaning people will be able to afford to go on vacation.
"Incomes will remain untouched," said Minister Varadkar. "The only people whose pay is being cut are ministers and senior civil servants. That means incomes will be the same next year.
"You'll have to pay €100 for your house and 2% on a new TV or fridge but that's it. That means people will be able to take a holiday, which they might not have been able to afford this year."
McDonald said the remarks were unacceptable, especially coming on a day which saw an increase in unemployment.
"Minister Varadkar, I don’t see him here, perhaps he's on a weekend break, who in a very, very, brash and unacceptable manner, has said to the population at large to cheer up and to take a vacation," she said.
"Perhaps he's just telling them to take a hike."
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