Fr Peter McVerry has apologised to the Taoiseach after claiming Leo Varadkar 'overrode' the Housing Minister to end the eviction ban.
Earlier this week, Fr McVerry said: "My understanding is that the Minister for Housing wanted to extend the ban and was acting in preparation for extending the ban.
"But he was overridden by the Taoiseach and that’s why there was no preparation made during the five-month ban for mitigating the effects of ending the ban".
A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar subsequently said Fr McVerry's claim was "100% incorrect and without any foundation."
'Unfortunate and inaccurate'
Speaking on 'The Neil Prendeville Show' on Cork's RedFM on Wednesday, Fr McVerry said his wording was 'unfortunate and inaccurate'.
"I want to put an end to this because it's a distraction from the real issue," he said.
"The real issue is, where do people go when they're evicted?
"The phrase I was given was that the Taoiseach had overridden the Minister.
"In light of the Taoiseach's denial, which I accept as true, I believe that that phrase was unfortunate and inaccurate".
A statement from our founder Fr Peter McVerry SJ. pic.twitter.com/nRfQF7iay1
— Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) April 5, 2023
Fr McVerry said the phrasing suggests "a conflict, or dispute between the Taoiseach and the Minister."
"Whatever the circumstances leading up to the decision to end the ban, which are now irrelevant as the decision has been made, I accept that the Minister - along with the rest of the Cabinet and the Taoiseach - made the decision together".
Asked if he was offering a clarification or apology, Fr McVerry said: "An apology to the Taoiseach, yes."
