Leo Varadkar was under fire on Wednesday night having been warned by his own party colleagues that the public is losing confidence in the government.
Fine Gael sources said the party’s parliamentary meeting was “intense” as the Tanáiste was told that there was a major problem in the way the government is communicating to the public.
It’s understood that Mayo TD Michael Ring told his colleagues that the government had failed on a number of issues throughout the pandemic including testing and communications.
While Carlow-Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan said Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s communication and performance was “appalling” in recent weeks.
Mr Phelan asked did the Taosieach seek approval from Cabinet to announce the extension of a lockdown until the end of April in a newspaper.
A number of TDs including Neale Richmond, Paul Kehoe and Senator Jerry Buttimer blasted the mixed messaging coming from the government.
It’s understood that Mr Buttimer also raised the idea of a communication tsar, however, sources said it did not get much support.
Tanáiste Leo Varadkar said the criticism of government communications was reasonable, heard loud and clear and will be taken onboard.
Former housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said members of the public were breaching Covid restrictions now with a different “intent.”
And that there was the attitude now that the government can “be damned.”
Mr Varadkar told his party colleagues they had a clear plan for the country to combat Covid for the next six to ten weeks.
He said everything must be done not to jeopardise the safe return of schools and childcare.
The Fine Gael leader said he was hopeful of what the future would bring and said the virus could be conquered.
He said he was confident 100,000 vaccines a week would be administered in March, more than 250,000 a week in April and heading towards 300,000 in May and June.
Mr Varadkar said on the current vaccine supply forecast, between 41 and 47% of adults will have their first dose by the end of April, between 57 and 64% by the end of May and 81 to 84% by the end of June.
The Tánaiste also said we will be embracing much greater levels of antigen testing in coming months which he described as a positive move.
