TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said that he hasn’t taken any illegal drugs other than cannabis.

It comes after last night’s TV debate with Fianna Fáil leader Martin where Mr Varadkar hesitated before confirming he previously told Hot Press magazine that he did take drugs.

He was asked by the magazine in 2010 if he smoked cannabis.

Mr Varadkar said: “I did a bit in my college years, yeah.

“But I wouldn’t be advocating that anybody else do the same – particularly being more aware now of the evidence linking cannabis smoking to schizophrenia.”

During the same interview he was asked if he had experimented with ecstasy or any other illegal drugs as a teen.

Mr Varadkar was less clear on this question saying: laughed: ”What did (then Taoiseach) Brian Cowen say to you, again?”

He added: “Not since I’ve held elected office, anyway. I’ve been extremely law-abiding since I’ve been elected to politics.”

Brian Cowen previously told Hot Press he smoked cannabis in college.

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Mr Varadkar was attending the launch of Fine Gael’s Online Safety policies at Castleknock Community College when he was asked by reporters if he had taken any drugs other than cannabis.

Mr Varadkar initially said: “I answered that question in the past I answered truthfully.

“I’m not going to go into any more detail

“I’m conscious that I’m the Taoiseach of the country.

“To a certain extent I’m a little bit of a role model... and I don’t want to be doing anything or saying anything that in any way promotes drug use or suggests to young people or the students in here that it’s in any way okay so I won’t be saying any more.“

Pressed again on whether he took other illegal drugs he said: “The answer is no but I really don’t want to get into any more detail on this".

Online Editors