Leo Varadkar has been criticised in some quarters for his decision to wear a shamrock poppy in the Dáil.
The shamrock poppy commemorates the thousands of Irish soldiers who fought, and in many cases died, fighting for the British Army in World War I.
Daniel McConnell, Political Editor with the Irish Examiner, joined us to give his thoughts.
"There was a belief that by getting involved and signing up, Irish soldiers were helping the cause of Home Rule."
"There are significant numbers of people who have relations who fought and lost their lives in the First World War and I think it's right that they be commemorated."
"I don't necessarily think that Leo Varadkar wearing a poppy is two fingers to those who believe in the Irish cause."
Listeners were also divided on the issue, as shown by the comments below:
- 'I've been wearing the Irish poppy with pride for a number of years, in fact this Friday is the centenary of U-52 surfacing in the Irish Sea, shelling the SV Lapwing, which resulted in the death of my great-grandfather and two of his sons.'
- 'Leo should be ashamed of himself wearing a poppy. Remember that blood-stained poppy represents what the British Army have done up in the north plus all over the world. Don't forget the 14 innocent souls from Bloody Sunday on January 30 1972. Would you see the British PM wearing an Easter lily?'
- 'If you want to remember the Irish who died in WW1 then fine, but do your own thing. Wearing the poppy is a disgrace, not far short of treason.'
