Varadkar downplays FG-FF 'same-sex marriage' joke; favours continuing Labour coalition
The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he would like the "very good partnership" between Fine Gael and Labour to continue.
Leo Varadkar was asked about potential coalition partners after comments from Joan Burton seen as hints of a possible link between the parties ahead of the next general election.
She told the Irish Independent: "I think both parties are going before the electorate as separate parties. But we'll be going as a government of achievement, where we want to carry that achievement forward into the next period."
Earlier this year, Minister Varadkar compared coalition with Fianna Fáil to same-sex marriage, saying it would "seem wrong at first, but would probably work out fine in the end".
This morning, he played down those comments and said his clear preference was for a Labour partnership.
"I cracked a joke on foot of a question from a young Fine Gael branch member and it managed to make it into the papers," he said.
"We're in a very good partnership with the Labour party and I would like that to continue - that's obviously my preference."
