Taoiseach confirms his office contacted Fr Peter…

Taoiseach confirms his office contacted Fr Peter McVerry over eviction ban row but 'didn't seek apology'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that his office did not seek an apology from Fr Peter McVerry when it contacted him about claims he made about the eviction ban.

The homelessness campaigner apologised to the Taoiseach on Wednesday for suggesting that Mr Varadkar had “overruled” Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien’s wish to continue the eviction ban.

In an interview with Red FM, Fr McVerry acknowledged that he may have been given incorrect information and that he wished to clarify his remarks.

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, the Taoiseach confirmed that his office had contacted the priest to clarify the situation.

He insisted, however, that Fr McVerry did not have to apologise to him and that his officials did not seek an apology.

The Taoiseach said: “My office contacted him and it was just very simply to set out the facts as they happened.

“I just want to say that no apology was necessary. There have been many times in the past when I've been given false information, and in good faith, I believed it to be true and I used it in the media and then found out it wasn't true and I've had to retract it.

“I understand that these things can happen. Certainly, I'm not upset about it at all.

Fr Peter McVerry (Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photo Agency, Dublin)

“Peter McVerry is someone I respect a lot and was one of the first people I met when I was reappointed Taoiseach.”

Mr Varadkar said that his office “clarified the position” because “what was said was not true”. He also said that his office did not look for a retraction and while he was not involved in the conversations, he imagines his office sought a clarification.

When asked if he believed Fr McVerry’s statement about lifting the eviction ban was the worst decision this administration was “hyperbolic”, Mr Varadkar said he was entitled to his opinion.

Fr McVerry told Red FM that he “want[ed] to put an end to this because it's a distraction from the real issue” as he questioned where people would go when the eviction ban ended.

He said: “The phrase I was given was that the Taoiseach had overridden the minister.

"In light of the Taoiseach’s denial, which I accept as true, I believe that that phrase was unfortunate and inaccurate, suggesting as it does a conflict or dispute between the Taoiseach and the minister.”