Howlin expresses disappointment at Taoiseach’s Austrian congratulations

Labour Party Leader and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brendan Howlin TD has expressed his surprise and disappointment at the tweet from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar congratulating the new Austrian Premier Sebastian Kurz.

Deputy Howlin commented:

“Chummy jokes about who is the youngest EPP leader is doesn’t cut it when the new Austrian Government has been formed with the involvement of the far right Freedom Party and the new Premier has seen fit to award the neo-fascist party with the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior ministries.

“Real friends are honest with each other. Given the problems around issues of migration and refugee rights across the EU, the ascent of the FPO to the Foreign, Defence and Interior ministries is deeply worrying.”