Leo: I back strategy on care homes

Varadkar on fuss over fees. FG chief was ‘briefed’ on plan

- BY LOUISE BURNE Political Correspondent

LEO Varadkar has conceded he "must have been briefed" about the legal strategy on nursing home charges but insisted he "would have agreed" to sign off on it if he had been asked.

The Fine Gael leader insisted that the story has been "misrepresented" and it "would not have been a case of [people] just going to the nursing home of their choice and then asking the Government to pick up the bill".

The Taoiseach told Newstalk on Monday he was "never party to devising or agreeing a legal strategy in relation to nursing home charges".

When questioned by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail yesterday, the Taoiseach said he "must have been briefed" on the matter. He added that he could not confirm when this happened or who had instructed him.