Leo Varadkar denies some ideas about ‘empty PR’

In the first public Fine Gael parliamentary party gathering since taking the reins as Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar set out his stall as leader and denied some of his ideas were about “empty PR”.

The latter was a surprising remark from the young leader who also took time to praise his predecessor Enda Kenny as well as comment on former US president Barack Obama.

It is nearly 100 days since Mr Varadkar took over the top job and the youngest Taoiseach in the history of the State faces criticism for being more about spin and image than results. His enthusiasm for Twitter, set-piece meetings with world leaders and a penchant for posing at social or sports events has surprised some. His new communications team has even been described as a “propaganda unit” by the opposition.