Leo Varadkar: No scandal influenced decision to step down as Taoiseach

Leo Varadkar said his successor Simon Harris has 'a tough job' deciding who will stay in any Cabinet reshuffle

Leo Varadkar ahead of his final Cabinet meeting. Picture: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA Wire

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said his successor Simon Harris will have a “tough job” deciding who will stay in an expected Cabinet reshuffle and confirmed that Wednesday will be his last time to attend Cabinet.

Mr Varadkar was speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings as ministers are expected to sign off on the long-awaited revised immigration plan from Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

Mr Varadkar confirmed it is his final Cabinet meeting, stating he had taken part in roughly 650 over the past decade.

He said titles are "transient" and that he will refer to himself as "Leo" when asked what his title is now.

Cabinet reshuffles are "one of the most difficult" tasks within Government, he said, adding it is impossible to keep everyone happy.

The now-former Fine Gael leader said while some TDs and ministers may be unhappy with any reshuffle, "as the last couple of weeks have shown, opportunities arise very quickly in politics".

Mr Varadkar reiterated that no scandal convinced him to step down. 

He said he has already explained his reason for going and that while "people struggle to make sense of politicians telling the truth" he is being truthful.

"There has never been a time in any party ... where no one is complaining about you.” 

He also defended the hate crime bill and said Sinn Féin has shown "cowardice" by saying it now opposes the plan after "online campaigns" criticised it.

Sinn Féin has denied claims of a U-turn on the Government's proposed hate speech legislation, despite all of the party's TDs voting in favour of the bill during the legislative process in the Dáil in 2023.