Varadkar compares Adams to Ahern

Speaking today at the Fine Gael national conference in Castlebar, Co Mayo, the minister also ruled out going into coalition with either Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin after the next general election.

“Neither can be trusted to lead a government. And our job is to make sure they are not.”

However, he also criticised how Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams refused to pay taxes and charges here, but did in the North, and how he used health services abroad.

“He has houses on both sides of the border, though he pays his property tax and water charges to Her Majesty's government in the North, but objects to paying in the Republic, so I’m told.

"Yet even though he is resident in both places, he doesn't use the health service, either North or South. Rather, he flies first class to America for treatment in a private hospital and yet claims to be paid the same as his driver.

"He explains to us that it was all paid for by his friends. Delegates, Ireland does not need another Taoiseach who gets dig-outs from his friends when he skips the country.”

The comments were viewed as a clear reference to Bertie Ahern, the former Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, who previously told a tribunal he received dig outs from friends to help him after his marriage separation.

Speaking about health, Mr Varadkar also called on nurses and doctors who had emigrated to come home, saying that the cycle of cuts had ended.

Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O'Brien later responded: "Minister Varadkar's time would be better spent reflecting on his own performance as Minister for Health.

"He is the Minister responsible for the dire overcrowding crisis in hospitals throughout this State.

"Minister Varadkar seems to be more concerned with engaging in immature attacks on his political opponents than with developing a credible strategy for dealing with this situation.

He added: “His attack on Sinn Féin is a sad attempt to deflect from the fact that he is failing miserably to meet the needs of citizens as Minister for Health.

"He should focus on meeting that challenge rather than grandstanding for the media."