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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended a video put out by the Fine Gael social media team that was subsequently deleted after a backlash online.<\/p>\nTaoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended a video put out by the Fine Gael social media team that was subsequently deleted after a backlash online.<\/p>\n
The video posted to Fine Gael\u2019s Twitter account on Friday night depicted Fianna F\u00e1il TDs running around Dublin city looking for policies, set to Benny Hill music.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the video had set out to portray serious issues in a light-hearted way.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Saturday, he said: \u201cYou will get negative commentary no matter what you put up, that is just the nature of social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe video was making a serious point that Fianna F\u00e1il has no serious policies and the party that purports to wish to lead the next government is not offering anything serious in terms of the economy, Brexit, health or housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked why it was taken down, he said: \u201cBecause some people thought it was silly and we want to make the same point but maybe in a more serious way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a comical video that was making a serious point in a comical way. Fianna F\u00e1il has no policies. They are not a serious alternative. They have had nine years to develop policies. We are a week into the election campaign and they have yet to bring out any serious policies in many meaningful areas that would in any way signal any change or difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if Fine Gael are now the \u201cnasty party\u201d and adopting negative campaigning strategies, Mr Varadkar said: \u201cNo, not at all. We\u2019re a very kind and caring party and we are the party that is absolutely committed to making our country a better place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of people will recognize the progress the country has made in the last couple of years and we recognize that it is not enough and we want to build on that after this election.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs is always the case in political debate \u2013 and all parties will do this \u2013 we will point out the flaws and shortcomings and lack of policies from other parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a week into this campaign and the main opposition party has had nine years to come up with policies and we have yet to see them and produce alternative policies.\u201d<\/p>\n