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Leo Varadkar steps down as Taoiseach and FG Leader
Updated / Wednesday, 20 Mar 2024 13:34
By Mícheál Lehane, Political Correspondent
Speaking at Leinster House, Leo Varadkar said that being Taoiseach has been the most fulfilling time of his life (Pic: RollingNews.ie)
Leo Varadkar has announced he is stepping down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader.
Speaking at Leinster House, he said that being Taoiseach has been the most fulfilling time of his life, with Ireland becoming a more equal and modern place, including for women and LGBT people.
He said that he is resigning as Fine Gael leader now, and will remain as Taoiseach until a new party leader is elected after the Easter recess.
His successor will have a full two months before the local and European elections in June, he said.
"My reasons for stepping down are both personal and political ... I believe the re-election of this three party Government will be the right thing for the future of our country," he added.
"After careful consideration, and some soul searching, I believe a new Taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that.
He added that "after seven years in office, I don't feel I'm the best person for that job anymore".
The Cabinet had been meeting in Government Buildings in advance of the announcement.
This morning there had been intense speculation about the Taoiseach's future.
The Government parties say that they do not expect today's announcement to trigger a general election.
Leo Varadkar: Ireland's youngest Taoiseach moves on after two terms
First elected in 2007, the now 45-year-old Mr Varadkar has previously said he would not stay in politics beyond the age of 50.
In 2011 Mr Varadkar was appointed as minister for transport by then-taoiseach Enda Kenny, before taking up the health portfolio in 2014.
He became Taoiseach in 2017, after beating Simon Coveney in the race to succeed Mr Kenny. He was the youngest person to hold the post.
Leo Varadkar with Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan in 2022
Following the 2020 general election, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a coalition agreement was reached between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
That agreement saw Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin become Taoiseach, with Mr Varadkar in the role of Tánaiste.
These roles were reversed in December 2022, with Mr Varadkar returning as Taoiseach for a second time as part of a deal with the coalition.
The announcement has caught many of his party colleagues by surprise.
It is anticipated that a Fine Gael leadership contest will now get under way.
The stability of the coalition Government is not thought to be in question at this point.
Varadkar welcomed Stormont return in resignation announcement
Mr Varadkar's time in office coincided with two separate periods of Stormont collapse which amounted to five years where devolution was in cold storage.
The first was when Sinn Féin withdrew in 2017 for three years and then again in 2022 when it was the DUP that pulled the plug.
He cited the fact that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement were back up and running as one of the reasons why it was as "good a time as any" to step down.
Much of Mr Varadkar's efforts in that time were concentrated on trying to navigate a route to the re-establishment of power-sharing through the choppy waters of Brexit.
He was in Belfast last month when the Stormont Assembly finally reconvened after the DUP did a deal with the British government.
Also in town was the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but it was a somewhat surreal experience.
Both were in Belfast at the same time for the same occasion, but it certainly could not have been described as a joint visit.
There was a feeling in British circles that Mr Varadkar had inserted himself into a day that rightly belonged to their man.
But the Fine Gael leader’s efforts to right the ship of devolution were appreciated in many circles.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he always found him to be "direct, supportive and willing to do whatever he could to support the political process in the North".
He had been a "relentless ally", Mr Eastwood said.
Unionists had a more jaundiced view.
They blamed him for Irish Sea border checks accusing him of raising the potential of a return of violence if they were to be established along the 300 mile land border between North and South.
They also did not welcome his talk about the possibility of a united Ireland in his lifetime and the need for a Plan B if the political institutions at Stormont could not be restored.
There was a muted response in unionist circles to the news that he was going. The only immediate public comment was from Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie who acknowledged it had come as a surprise.
He wished Mr Varadkar well, adding: "We look forward to working with his successor in a constructive manner, fostering good relationships."
I think its safe to say that someone's cranky about the recent referendum being btfo lmao.
Apologies if format is shit, this is babby's first A&N OP
Leo Varadkar steps down as Taoiseach and FG Leader
Updated / Wednesday, 20 Mar 2024 13:34
By Mícheál Lehane, Political Correspondent
Speaking at Leinster House, Leo Varadkar said that being Taoiseach has been the most fulfilling time of his life (Pic: RollingNews.ie)
Leo Varadkar has announced he is stepping down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader.
Speaking at Leinster House, he said that being Taoiseach has been the most fulfilling time of his life, with Ireland becoming a more equal and modern place, including for women and LGBT people.
He said that he is resigning as Fine Gael leader now, and will remain as Taoiseach until a new party leader is elected after the Easter recess.
His successor will have a full two months before the local and European elections in June, he said.
"My reasons for stepping down are both personal and political ... I believe the re-election of this three party Government will be the right thing for the future of our country," he added.
"After careful consideration, and some soul searching, I believe a new Taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that.
He added that "after seven years in office, I don't feel I'm the best person for that job anymore".
The Cabinet had been meeting in Government Buildings in advance of the announcement.
This morning there had been intense speculation about the Taoiseach's future.
The Government parties say that they do not expect today's announcement to trigger a general election.
Leo Varadkar: Ireland's youngest Taoiseach moves on after two terms
First elected in 2007, the now 45-year-old Mr Varadkar has previously said he would not stay in politics beyond the age of 50.
In 2011 Mr Varadkar was appointed as minister for transport by then-taoiseach Enda Kenny, before taking up the health portfolio in 2014.
He became Taoiseach in 2017, after beating Simon Coveney in the race to succeed Mr Kenny. He was the youngest person to hold the post.
Leo Varadkar with Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan in 2022
Following the 2020 general election, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a coalition agreement was reached between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
That agreement saw Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin become Taoiseach, with Mr Varadkar in the role of Tánaiste.
These roles were reversed in December 2022, with Mr Varadkar returning as Taoiseach for a second time as part of a deal with the coalition.
The announcement has caught many of his party colleagues by surprise.
It is anticipated that a Fine Gael leadership contest will now get under way.
The stability of the coalition Government is not thought to be in question at this point.
Varadkar welcomed Stormont return in resignation announcement
Mr Varadkar's time in office coincided with two separate periods of Stormont collapse which amounted to five years where devolution was in cold storage.
The first was when Sinn Féin withdrew in 2017 for three years and then again in 2022 when it was the DUP that pulled the plug.
He cited the fact that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement were back up and running as one of the reasons why it was as "good a time as any" to step down.
Much of Mr Varadkar's efforts in that time were concentrated on trying to navigate a route to the re-establishment of power-sharing through the choppy waters of Brexit.
He was in Belfast last month when the Stormont Assembly finally reconvened after the DUP did a deal with the British government.
Also in town was the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but it was a somewhat surreal experience.
Both were in Belfast at the same time for the same occasion, but it certainly could not have been described as a joint visit.
There was a feeling in British circles that Mr Varadkar had inserted himself into a day that rightly belonged to their man.
But the Fine Gael leader’s efforts to right the ship of devolution were appreciated in many circles.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he always found him to be "direct, supportive and willing to do whatever he could to support the political process in the North".
He had been a "relentless ally", Mr Eastwood said.
Unionists had a more jaundiced view.
They blamed him for Irish Sea border checks accusing him of raising the potential of a return of violence if they were to be established along the 300 mile land border between North and South.
They also did not welcome his talk about the possibility of a united Ireland in his lifetime and the need for a Plan B if the political institutions at Stormont could not be restored.
There was a muted response in unionist circles to the news that he was going. The only immediate public comment was from Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie who acknowledged it had come as a surprise.
He wished Mr Varadkar well, adding: "We look forward to working with his successor in a constructive manner, fostering good relationships."
I think its safe to say that someone's cranky about the recent referendum being btfo lmao.
Apologies if format is shit, this is babby's first A&N OP
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