The Weekend On One With Brendan O'Connor

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986319#Comment_119986319

Do you seriously think it was removed without some input from his office? Seriously?

Do you know how hard it is to get anything removed from a social media platform?

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986312#Comment_119986312

Because he's the incoming senior politician in the country and if he behaves as recklessly as this in public (open relationship or not) then it calls into question his judgement.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986483#Comment_119986483

How was he behaving recklessy?

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986498#Comment_119986498

So, in your opinion, an attached man (open relationship or not) in his 40s with a very high public profile who holds the second highest public office in the country 2 weeks before he's about to hold the highest office getting off with a 20 something young lad in a nightclub where he would or at least should know there's a possibility of that act being filmed given the proliferation of mobile phones in society today and with a SIPO report coming out the following week casting doubts about his truthfulness regarding the leaking of a confidential document is perfectly fine and raises no issues about his judgement?

Ok.

One might suggest that keeping a very low profile and keeping one's bib clean would be better advice given what coming.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986532#Comment_119986532

The vast majority of his work colleagues, plus the general population would appear to disagree with you.

Perhaps you need to re-evaluate your own assessment of what is reckless behaviour.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986548#Comment_119986548

Lol, his work colleagues as you describe them basically have to back him publicly.

No, I don’t need to evaluate my opinion on this. Were it a straight attached man with a young wan I doubt the reaction and media coverage would be the same but PC / Wokeness dominates and we dare not criticize Leo!

You don’t think he would have better in hindsight not doing this then?

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986548#Comment_119986548

Where is your evidence that the majority of the general population approve of this, or is it just your opinion?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986483#Comment_119986483

What is 'reckless' about snogging in a night club?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986532#Comment_119986532

He's no fool. He knew well that there was a possibility of the act being filmed. He just doesn't give a toss about net curtain twitchers getting all outraged about what goes on in nightclubs. BTW, how do you know the age of the other party in the video?

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986793#Comment_119986793

Well I disagree. If that video clip is true and it hasn't be denied, then it is disgraceful that a senior government minister would carry on like that. Leo has been cut a fair bit of slack as regards his sexual orientation. But there are limits and the public demands a damn sight higher standard of judgement than that for ordinary plebs.

As long as this story circulates and it's not sorted, Leo is in serious trouble. It will be used against him, you can be sure.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986782#Comment_119986782

Nothing, for an ordinary citizen. But again, he’s a public figure, attached, a senior politician, and he would have known the SIPO report was coming out - he should have known better than to do anything to bring a spotlight on him at this time, and that is why I am saying his behaviour is reckless and is a poor reflection of his judgement. I’m not saying him sniffing the guy was reckless, I’m saying his behaviour is. Do you really not see or understand the difference here?

Also, do you know anyone in an open relationship? I suspect not. Because the one rule the majority of people in those relationships have is not to do anything to embarrass the other - do what you want but not in public and don’t humiliate me. Those who I have spoken to about this have said he has broken the golden rule.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986893#Comment_119986893

He lived his life in the spotlight for the past 15 years. If he decided not to go out for a pint or a snog to avoid the spotlight, he'd be living the life of a hermit. It's his choice when he decides to go nightclubbing. It's nothing to do with being reckless.

As for golden rules within relationships, that is absolutely none of your business. His relationship is his business.

The only recklessness I see here is from nosey feckers who want to judge what other people get up to in nightclubs.

mjsc1970

Agreed

Initially when this cropped up I was thinking, oh, this is probably gonna bite Leo, but then I thought, really, who cares?

It's not really a talking point or anything to get het up over

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986917#Comment_119986917

Again, you’re completely missing the point - it’s not about the snogging - but fire away hiding behind that as your defence.

Hypothetically speaking - seeing as you said it was no one’s business what he does in a nightclub - if he was doing illegal drugs, would that be ok too?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986867#Comment_119986867

What is disgraceful about snogging in a night club? While it's a long time since I've visited, isn't that pretty much what night clubs are for?

This is just prurient morality policing. I'm the last person that wants to defend Vradakar, he's a blue blooded Tory who largely failed to deliver for his party, his various Ministries and for the country. But he can do whatever the hell he likes when he's in a night club, as long as it is legal.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986990#Comment_119986990

Did you miss the post where I said;

Why is it anyone else's business what he gets up to in night clubs, as long as he's not breaking the law?

If it's not about the snogging, what exactly is it about?

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987005#Comment_119987005

Please read back.

EmmetSpiceland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987005#Comment_119987005

Ryan Tubridy, maybe?

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119986996#Comment_119986996

There is nothing disgraceful about ordinary folk snogging in nightclubs, on the streets, in the park or preferably at home in their beds.

Leo Varadkar is not an ordinary citizen, that's the crunch. If true, this was a major lapse of judgement. Coveney should be appointed Taoiseach in a few days and let Leo ruminate on the back benches for a while. Might just be good for the party too.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987409#Comment_119987409

When did these rules come in? Is it OK for straight politicians to snog people in nightclubs? What if they don't use tongues? Is a good old lip smacking kiss OK? And what about the hands - above the waist or below the waist? Can you be specific about what rules you have apparently imposed on adults for no reason?

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987005#Comment_119987005

I agree with Butthers completely, the lad is about to become the Taoiseach,the leading politician in our country.

I would suggest that that video alone would cost him a lot of votes, and even that obvious reaction would ,for me , question his judgement as a serious politician.

in fact it shows in my opinion disrespect for the electorate and while no laws were broken, not to understand that

given his position in our country there could be huge fallout electorally for his party.

I would suggest his fellow party members were not over pleased at the video.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987633#Comment_119987633

To say that it was politically unwise is a different matter entirely. That's entirely a matter of opinion, so I'm not going to argue or dispute it. Given that the matter has got practically zero traction, and the grannies most likely to be offended aren't on Twitter, I'm not sure how many votes he's going to lose.

But you know what, maybe we need some politicians who don't live their lives by focus group. If he wants a snog on a Saturday night, it is no one's business except his own.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987590#Comment_119987590

Your thinking is very strange, I think you likely live in some liberal bubble in Dublin or somewhere like that? No it's not OK for politicians, particularly ministers to be snogging what is thought to be a relative stranger in a nightclub, particularly when politicians are married or have steady partners etc.

You seem to have some idea, that just because Leo is gay, that he gets a special dispensation to behave differently - as that's gay culture?? Am I right? Well you're wrong, it doesn't matter if he's gay or straight - the same basic rules apply as to how you carry yourself in public.

If you don't understand that, you don't understand the Irish electorate. The electorate is far from being as permissive as you seem to assume. This should be cleared up now, otherwise it will be used by political opponents.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987823#Comment_119987823

'thought to be a relative stranger'? Your thinking is very strange. Where did you get the information on how well or how badly Vradakar knows the other person? If he happens to know the other person well, is everything OK then?

I can only ask again where you're getting these 'basic rules as to how you carry yourself in public' from - can you share more details on these rules please?

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987802#Comment_119987802

No, it’s not completely different, to behave in a manner that is politically unwise and therefore draw attention to yourself at a time when you’re days away from assuming the most senior political post in the country and days away from the publication of a report from SIPO in which 2 members basically said they don’t believe your explanation is reckless. Btw, this was also the first time in the history of SIPO that their findings weren’t unanimous.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987958#Comment_119987958

So if he was snogging in a nightclub three months ago, that's OK by you? Or three months into the future?

How's your 'drawing attention to yourself' theory working out for ya, given that's he's gotten pretty much no attention on the matter?

ButtersSuki

The way some are commenting in here you’d almost think Leo planned this and should be congratulated for his public expression of emotion and Gigi’s efforts to break down barriers

Do you honestly think his Strat Comm PR minions were delighted when this became public or something?

This statement is hilariously ironic given there’s likely never been a politician in this country who is more a slave to ficus groups than Leo:

But you know what, maybe we need some politicians who don't live their lives by focus group.

This the same Leo who was against gay marriage until it he found out it was ok to be for it though…..focus group results. Lol.

Utterly predictable to see him play the privacy card too. Pearse Doherty’s run in with the law wasn’t a private matter was it, and Mary Lou’s house doesn’t seem to be private either? Interesting that. Oh and I’m no SF supporter btw, I actually voted FG last time I voted (election before last, I was in the US during our last election).

The saddest part for me with Leo is that when he appeared on the scene I actually thought he was quite promising, he’s done nothing but go down in my opinion the more he exposes his real self. Failed in every ministry he’s held, and moves from one controversy to the next as Tanaiste/Taoiseach,

Brendan Bendar

To think that there would not be substantial political fallout from this event would be strange, in my opinion.

Leadership brings certain standards, leaders need to be able to inspire confidence in people.

We have all seen how ‘events’ can influence politics even though no laws have been broken, so I’m afraid this has to be seen as a very bad error of judgement which could be extrapolated to give concern how other decisions of national importance would be handled

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119987969#Comment_119987969

What on earth are you talking about? No attention? Really?

To answer your question though - no, it wouldn't. It would still be unbecoming, though not as spectacularly bad as his timing this time around. It's not very becoming of the holder of the office he holds. That position demands certain behavioural standards and responsibilities. How you cannot see this is simply astonishing. And I'd bet were it Pearse Doherty, Trump, Boris Johnson, Mary Lou etc. the reaction would be very different.

Call me old-fashioned for expecting the next leader of the country - a man in his 40s btw - not to be out looking for the shift in a nightclub. It's not like the country has many issues to deal with at the moment is it? 🙄

Any chance you'd answer my questions now?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119988441#Comment_119988441

Can you share these behavioural standards and responsibilities please?