Paul Hosford: Leo had lost his roar but bows out on his own terms

Leo Varadkar's departure was like most of his tenure — played out on his terms. What was striking, however, was that he admitted he does not feel he is the best person for the job anymore, writes Political Correspondent Paul Hosford

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the count centre in the RDS, Dublin, as counting of votes continues in the European Elections. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday May 26, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Elections Ireland. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

In the run-up to the 2007 general election, the man who would become Taoiseach was on the streets of Dublin West distributing mini Lion bars, emblazoned with "Vote No 1 Leo The Lion".

Standing at train stations in Clonsilla and Coolmine and Castleknock, the young councillor who had received a country-high tally of nearly 5,000 votes in 2004 was just 28, the son of immigrants, and had built a high profile locally. But even with that, his near 7,000 first preferences in a three-seat constituency featuring heavyweights Brian Lenihan, Joan Burton, and Joe Higgins was an impressive result, surprising many.

Except, in the Coolmine Sports Centre on that day, my abiding memory as a reporter for community radio station Phoenix FM was that Mr Varadkar was anything but surprised. If anything, he seemed to feel like he had underperformed, despite taking the second seat and ousting Mr Higgins. Call it youth, call it arrogance, but Mr Varadkar seemed to know that higher office awaited him even then.

In his earliest days he was forthright and outspoken, needling then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern over his personal finances, saying that the Fianna Fáil leader was shown as "being both devious and cunning, in the words of his mentor, master and, clearly, role model" Charlies Haughey. When Mr Ahern responded in a Sunday paper days later, he took umbrage at being tagged by someone "a wet day in the place" and predicted Mr Varadkar would "get an early exit". 

Bertie Ahern (pictured) had predicted Mr Varadkar would "get an early exit". File photo: Niall Carson/PA

While the sight of a sitting taoiseach responding in such a manner was unusual, for Mr Varadkar it was mission accomplished. As the saying goes: you come at the king, you best not miss. Mr Varadkar came at the king and landed a number of blows and the article merely confirmed his standing — he was not just an opposition TD, he was a heavyweight.

But even heavyweights swing and miss and the Dublin West man's backing of Richard Bruton in a heave against party leader Enda Kenny was a misstep, even if it was one which Mr Kenny forgave. With a larger vote share in Dublin West, Mr Varadkar was part of the Fine Gael tide which swept Fianna Fáil from power and was rewarded with a position as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. 

However, his transition from forthright Opposition spokesperson to forthright minister was rough, earning him disapproval for his comments that Ireland may require a second bailout. Indeed, by May of 2011, the Evening Herald had published a story listing his "gaffes", which included a suggestion that unemployed immigrants should be paid to go home.

A 2014 reshuffle would see him moved to the health ministry, a handy place for Mr Kenny to put a minister who seemed to be overachieving in transport. His time in health was not without controversy, with a 2016 decision to divert €12m of a €35m mental health budget resulting in fierce criticism. 

In his next role as Minister for Social Protection, he would provoke more controversy as he fronted a campaign aimed at tackling welfare fraud. The image of the red Welfare Cheats Cheat Us All placard has haunted Mr Varadkar's online presence, being used as both a joke template and a real critique of Fine Gael policy. A year later, playwright Emmet Kirwan would use the campaign in a viral Late Late Show appearance in a characterisation of Mr Varadkar's politics which the outgoing taoiseach has long rejected.

In between, Mr Varadkar used the occasion of his 36th birthday to tell the nation he is gay on the Marian Finucane show, reversing course and supporting same-sex marriage, even if it was in his own pragmatic way.

He said:

I'm not a half-Indian politician, or a doctor politician, or a gay politician for that matter. It's just part of who I am, it doesn't define me, it is part of my character I suppose. 

Mr Varadkar has always sought not to have his ethnicity or sexuality become politicised, even when some of the commentary or criticism around him is viewed through that lens.

When Mr Kenny stepped aside in 2017, Mr Varadkar was seen as the favourite to win the Fine Gael leadership election, but had to contest with Simon Coveney. The Cork TD won the support of the general party membership, but lost out as Mr Varadkar carried the parliamentary party, which saw him over the line under Fine Gael's electoral college rules.

As he became the youngest Taoiseach ever, Mr Varadkar told the Dáil 10 years to the day after his first Dáil sitting that he had been "elected to lead, but I promise to serve" in an administration that would eschew the political spectrum. 

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"The Government I lead will not be one of left or right because those old divisions do not comprehend the political challenges of today," he said.

He would announce Simon Harris as his Health Minister and swiftly propose a referendum on the repealing of the Eighth Amendment on his first day in office, following a concentrated civil-society effort, saying there had been a "fundamental shift" in his opinions on abortion. 

However, rockier days lay ahead and the Government came close to collapse over Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald's role in the Maurice McCabe affair, but his government's handling of Brexit and the Eighth Amendment referendum win had him on a high that saw him included in Time's 100 Most Influential People list.

But as 2019 wore on and crises in health and housing continued to worsen, Mr Varadkar cut an odd figure, flat and lacking urgency. The 2020 election epitomised that as his campaigning and debating skills were criticised and Fine Gael limped home as the third biggest party. 

Adamant his party would swap sides of the Dáil chamber, the covid pandemic would see Mr Varadkar energised once more as his "caretaker" government's early handling of the crisis saw his popularity soar once again, leading to a three-party coalition and a rotating Taoiseach's office. In truth, he struggled as Tánaiste and was often accused of jumping the gun on covid-era announcements in a bid to steal the limelight.

If those in his party saw his return to the top job as the shot in the arm they needed, the fact that it came under the cloud of allegations around Mr Varadkar's leaking of a GP contract deal didn't help and the 18 months that followed, with a spate of Fine Gael resignations, riots in Dublin and major questions on immigration policy have hardly invigorated the grassroots.

In the end, though, Mr Varadkar's departure was like most of his tenure — played out on his terms. What was striking, however, was that he admitted he does not feel he is the best person for the job anymore.

"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."

In the end, Leo The Lion had lost his roar.