Leo Varadkar says Army is 'on standby' as red weather alert hits Ireland
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Leo Varadkar says Army is 'on standby' as red weather alert hits Ireland

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said the Irish Army is on “standby” as a Status Red snow and ice warning turns swathes of the emerald isle white.

Speaking this morning, the Irish PM said there is no need to panic about emptying supermarket shelves as customers stock up ahead of the cold snap.

“The army is on standby if needed,” Mr Varadkar told Newstalk Breakfast.

“We are told there is no threat to food security”.

The Taoiseach was speaking after Met Éireann issued its highest weather warning for Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and Meath.

Snow showers are expected to continue throughout trendy and again tonight, with accumulations of up to 25cms expected by Thursday.

Asked about UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s controversial comments yesterday – in which he compared the Irish border to the divide between Camden and Westminster – Mr Varadkar said he was more interested in listening to Theresa May.

“When I listen to the British Government, I listen to the Prime Minister,” he said.

The 39-year-old added that that he hoped Mrs May “will give us insight on how our relations with the UK will work” post-Brexit in a speech on Friday.

On the upcoming abortion referendum, he said the Government is asking the public to “trust women and trust doctors” – arguing that after 12 weeks the medical profession must be trusted to make the best medical decisions.