Opposition leaders are demanding clarity from the Taoiseach over his decision to contact planners in Clare County Council following a phone call from Donald Trump.
Speaking at an event in Washington DC as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations, Mr Varadkar recounted a story when he was tourism minister on a trip to London.
He said he got a call from Mr Trump, asking about proposals to build a wind farm near Doonbeg.
The Taoiseach told the US president, Vice President Mike Pence and other US government leaders he thought it was a "pisstake".
Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump. Picture by: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images
Mr Varadkar said he did what he could: "I rang the county council and inquired about the planning permission - and subsequently the planning permission was declined - thus the landscape being preserved.
"And the president has very kindly given me credit for that - although I do think it probably would have been refused anyway.
"But I'm very happy to take credit for it if the president is going to offer it to me".
Clare County Council has issued a statement saying no formal objection was logged from any public representative in relation to the planning:
Statement from @ClareCoCo in response to queries received this evening pic.twitter.com/hK4vmcIv8S
— Clare County Council (@ClareCoCo) March 15, 2018
Opposition TDs have, however, called for clarity.
Taoiseach needs to be more transparent in relation to his intervention with Clare County Council on behalf of President Trump regarding a planning application for a wind farm . Who did he ring? What was the nature of the intervention?
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 15, 2018
Labour leader Brendan Howlin has suggested the Taoiseach is guilty of a serious lapse of judgement.
He argued: "The Taoiseach should recognise that, apologise for his original interference, and say that on reflection it was entirely inappropriate for a Cabinet minister to interfere in a planning matter, as he apparently did."
