Leo Varadkar has lashed out at Micheal Martin over his comments about the timing of the General Election.
The Taoiseach said it was ridiculous for the Fianna Fail leader to suggest that he had timed the election to coincide with Brexit.
The successful negotiation of Ireland's position in relation to Britain's leaving the EU has given Fine Gael a bounce in recent days.
Britain formally left the EU at 11pm last night after a fraught 47 years' membership.
Speaking to a rally of supporters and party workers in Ballincollig, Co Cork last night, he said: "One of the odder suggestions that came out from Micheal Martin was that I had timed the election cleverly and cunningly to coincide with Brexit.
"It was all my idea after all. It wasn't Nigel Farage or anyone like that.
"But if course we know that's not true.
"The person who decided that the longevity of this Dail, of this government, be linked to Brexit, would be linked to events in another country, was Micheal Martin himself.
"The reason why the election is happening now, in the winter, in February, isn't because it's the best time for any political party, Fianna Fail or Fine Gael or anyone else, it's because it's the best time for the country."
