The Taoiseach has been accused of flouting Covid guidelines, was forced to apologise for a number of gaffes, and faced police questioning over an alleged confidential document leak in 2021.
Leo Varadkar, 45, became Ireland's youngest prime minister aged 38 in 2017Leo Varadkar reflected on his time as Ireland's prime minister fondly as he announced his resignation today, saying he 'enjoyed' being Taoiseach but that it was now time to 'move on' - with his shock statement triggering a 'political earthquake'.
Over the past seven years he has served as Taoiseach and Tanaiste - deputy prime minister - in a coalition, but despite his initial popularity, he also courted controversies during a term dominated by Brexit and Covid-19. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks with his Irish counterpart Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett during Montreal Pride in 2017
He always had political ambitions, announcing at the age of seven that he wanted to become the minister for health when he grew up - a dream he later accomplished. A promising student, he was selected for Washington Ireland Program for Service and Leadership , and spent time working as a political intern in DC.
'He made an ill-judged, off-the-cuff remark which he regrets,' she said. 'He apologises for any offense caused to anyone concerned.' He entered the Dáil, Ireland's parliament, in 2007, when he was elected as Teachta Dála for the Dublin West constituency, which he has served ever since. During his stint as social protection minister Varadkar launched a campaign on welfare cheats, he advocates free markets and only made known his pro-choice views on abortion in the run-up to the historic referendum in 2018.
The agreement staved off the prospect of a hard trade border being introduced on the island of Ireland, but it did prompt years of further political turmoil, particularly within unionism in Northern Ireland, over the creation of a so-called Irish Sea border on the movement of goods between the region and Great Britain.Varadkar said his centre-right Fine Gael party will have a leadership contest.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Justice Minister Helen McEntee are also possible candidates. Some viewers suggested that the two-metre safety distance was not being observed, but Varadkar's office insisted he followed lockdown rules. Garda detectives formally questioned him and took his phone during the criminal investigation into the sharing of a draft €210million GP contract in April 2019.
The remarks sparked outrage among disability activists and carers, who took to social media to criticise him. He simply said it was the right time for him to step down and that there was no 'real reason' behind his decision, adding that now is as 'good a time as any' to step down. 'I have nothing else lined up. I have nothing in mind. I have no definite personal or political plans,' he said, 'but I'm really looking forward to having the time to think about them.'
'However, politicians are human beings and we have our limitations. We give it everything until we can't anymore and then we have to move on.' 'We have made significant steps towards affordable childcare and universal healthcare, making access to both more affordable for more people. 'We provided leadership by increasing our spending on international development, and we have expanded our diplomatic footprint around the world, building on Ireland's already considerable soft power. The National Broadband Plan is underway – bringing fibre-based internet connections to every home, school, business, farm and community in Ireland, which the critics said shouldn't be done.
'Of course, there are other areas in which we have been much less successful and some in which we have gone backwards, but I hope you'll forgive me if I leave it to others to point them out on a day like this. They will receive plenty of airtime and column space. 'I know this will come as a surprise to many and a disappointment to some. I hope you will at least understand my decision. I know that others will, how shall I put it, cope with the news just fine. That is the great thing about living in a democracy.
'After careful consideration and some soul-searching, I believe a new Taoiseach will be better-placed than me to achieve that - to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation. After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job.
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