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Matt Cooper: Leo the Lip seems to think representing Ireland abroad is a joking matter

Making an ill-advised Clinton quip and ducking out of an important lunch with big multinational American investors in Ireland does not become an Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Hillary Clinton at the 'Women at the Helm' conference in Washington, DC, last week during his visit to the US for St Patrick's Day. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Another nickname that has been bestowed on our Taoiseach is that of “Leo the Lip”. Varadkar has a tendency to shoot first and to ask questions (or issue apologies) later, as demonstrated by his faux pas in Washington on Thursday when he made an ill-judged joke about the dangers facing interns during the Clinton presidency.

Varadkar was speaking at a function in advance of his visit to the White House on Friday for the traditional ...