The Tánaiste says planning permission for a hotel at Dublin's Cobblestone pub should be refused.
More than 400 objections have been lodged against plans to develop a hotel at the site of the Smithfield bar that's renowned for its trad sessions.
While part of the traditional bar would remain under the plans, much of the pub's floor space would be removed.
There have been a number of protests against the development, while some politicians have described the plans as "cultural vandalism".
Leo Varadkar doesn't believe Dublin is losing its cultural soul, saying cities evolve and there are lots of good things happening in the capital.
However, he told Newstalk Breakfast the proposed Cobblestone / North King Street development is not one of those good things.
He said: “If I ever have visitors in town and they want to hear some trad music, I’d either take them to the Cobblestone or Dame Tavern. It's an authentic spot.
“Certainly my view in terms of what’s being proposed there… with the hotel essentially enveloping the Cobblestone… I think Dublin City Council should refuse that application.
“I don’t say that lightly, by the way - I’m a former tourism minister, and I don’t have an ideological objection to tourists coming to the city.
“The question you have to ask yourself is in a world that’s becoming increasingly homogenised… why do people come to Dublin? They come to see what's unique and distinctive.
“If you start to take away places like the Cobblestone, you actually undermine our longer-term offering for tourism.”
The Tánaiste says he does think DCC will refuse permission, and suggested the plans are not in line with the city development plan.
He stressed that cities “do need to evolve and change” over time. pointing to recent developments in Dublin such as the pedestrianisation of more city-centre streets and the Central Plaza development at the former Central Bank site.
He said: “It’s easy to concentrate only on the negative things… lots of great things are happening too.
"But this proposed Cobblestone / North King Street hotel is not one of them.”
