The Tánaiste said he is strongly of the view that the Technological University of the South-East should be centred in Waterford.
Leo Varadkar was responding to Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane and Fianna Fail TD in Carlow/Kilkenny Jennifer Murnane O'Connor in the Dail.
Both Deputies were making the case for the headquarters of the new entity to be in their respective areas.
David Cullinane was first to raise the issue and said that he wants this university to be delivered as quickly as possible.
However, he said it has to be consistent with national policy.
"We know that national policy is that Waterford City has to be the catalyst for economic growth and that in that context it is important that the headquarters of the new university would be located in Waterford."
Deputy Murnane O'Connor described herself as a proud Carlow woman, "we also would be saying that we should also have the headquarters".
"I don't want this to be a match between Waterford or Carlow. I think first of all we have to make sure we get the technological university."
"Then we should we all put in our part and look for headquarters," she said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said it would be a shame if the university got caught up in a row about where the President's office is.
"I'm strongly of the view that it should be centred in Waterford City and we should use some available sites in Waterford City to expand it further.
"I think it would be a real shame if this got delayed or caught up in a row over where the president's office is or where the headquarters should be.
Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that one of the reasons why the MTU in Munster and the Dublin Technological University has happened is because of the disputes between the campuses in the south-east which have held up the project.
"I think the best thing we can do for the people of the south-east is instead of looking for reasons for rows between Carlow and Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford, we should actually go ahead and set up this TU as soon as we can and deliver those benefits for the region."
