Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has admitted that “a week wouldn’t go by” where he is not verbally abused on the street.
Mr Varadkar was responding to a video that has circulated on social media where a van pulled up beside Mr Varadkar while he was out jogging in Dublin city centre.
The video, which was originally posted on TikTok but shared on Twitter, shows a motorist rolling down his window and calling Mr Varadkar’s name.
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‘Here Leo, you’re a p***k,’ the man said.
‘You f***ing w***er.’
Mr Varadkar told the man to have a nice day.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said: “Unfortunately it’s a sad part of politics and public life at the moment.
“A week wouldn't go by where somebody doesn't hurl abuse in the street.
“It doesn't always get on video.
“The vast majority of people who come up to you in the street or publicly are very kind and very polite, very complimentary.
"They usually want to thank you for the work you're doing, whether it’s as a local TD or work done during the pandemic or whatever.
“But one in 10 would give you abuse and I have kind of accepted it as part of political life – maybe I shouldn't.”
Mr Varadkar said the incident occurred last summer when he was exercising after a day’s work.
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