Leo Varadkar has had 'interesting' job offers as he officially resigns as Taoiseach
Leo Varadkar leaving Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin, after he tendered his resignation as taoiseach to President of Ireland Michael D Higgins. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Leo Varadkar has officially resigned as Taoiseach, after handing in a letter of resignation to President Michael D Higgins.
Mr Varadkar made the shock announcement three weeks ago that he was resigning as Fine Gael leader immediately and would stand down as Taoiseach once his successor had been appointed.
Mr Varadkar arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin, at 5.55pm on Monday.
Mr Higgins is understood to have greeted Mr Varadkar in the president’s study, where a letter of resignation was handed to the Secretary General of the Irish President.
Mr Varadkar left the official residence at 6.40pm after having some refreshments with President Higgins and his wife Sabina.
Following the visit, Mr Varadkar said that he has received several “interesting” job offers in recent weeks, but has not made any decision to step down as a TD.
Speaking on RTÉ’s , Mr Varadkar said that he has received multiple offers but that he does not have a new job lined up as he leaves the Taoiseach’s office.
Asked about his plans, Mr Varadkar said: “[I’ve] nothing lined up. Definitely a few interesting offers that have come my way which I’ll be able to explore over the summer period when I get a chance to take a break.”
Mr Varadkar said that he had “oscillated” on the decision to step down as Taoiseach and that it was difficult to announce several days ago.
However, he said that he has had “no regrets” since making the decision.
On his regrets as he leaves office, Mr Varadkar said that he believed there were periods of “excessive caution” at certain times of his tenure as a minister and as Taoiseach.
“In 2011, 2012, we never thought the economy would bounce back so quickly from the crash. When the pandemic happened we never thought the economy would bounce back so quickly,” Mr Varadkar said.
“Because of that, there were big investment decisions, big spending decisions that we could have made, you know, a year or two earlier and that would have put us in a better position today when it comes to things like housing, for example.
“But unfortunately that was the advice at the time and we took it and it’s easy to with hindsight to look at all these things that we didn’t know at the time.”
Mr Varadkar did say that he was proud of Ireland’s response to covid-19, the government’s economic management, as well as providing “greater equality” for women, LGBT people and minorities.
On toxicity in politics, Mr Varadkar said that people are “encouraged to be angry” and it is celebrated in a way it wasn’t previously.
New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris is expected to be appointed as Ireland’s next taoiseach, and the youngest in its history, on Tuesday afternoon.
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