Generational change as new leader celebrates Republic where ‘prejudice has no hold’
LEO Varadkar yesterday celebrated the fact that ‘prejudice has no hold in this Republic’ as he set out to give the country a fresh start.
He promised that under his leadership, there would be a ‘different style’ with a ‘different personality’ and generational change.
The 38-year-old was elected the youngest Fine Gael leader, and will soon be the country’s youngest Taoiseach. He said all parents should take encouragement from his win.
It means their child could aspire to anything to which their talent took them, with no barriers to their progress.
Immediately, on tasting his triumph at the Mansion House, Mr Varadkar said: ‘If it shows anything, it is that prejudice has no hold in this Republic.’
He then embraced his boyfriend, Dr Matt Barrett, and hugged his parents Ashok and Miriam, as well rival, Simon Coveney.
Mr Varadkar won the election 60-40 over tenacious Mr Coveney, who nevertheless won a victory among the rank-and-file membership.
Declaring that in Ireland, ‘it doesn’t matter where you come from’, he told how his father had journeyed 5,000 miles to live in a new country, ‘and I don’t think he ever dreamed his son would grow up to be its leader.’ It was the most emotional moment of his ascent and he received a thunderous ovation for it.
He won over 69% of the parliamentary party, scoring 51 votes of TDs, senators and MEPs to Mr Coveney’s 22. The pair largely shared the councillor vote, with Mr Varadkar prevailing by 123 to 100.
Mr Coveney’s achievement of 65% support among ordinary members was significant and Varadkar paid tribute to his rival because of it, hinting that it would win him an important place in government.
Mr Varadkar didn’t believe any features of his own campaign, such as the Dubliner’s liberal views on abortion, turned the rank and file away. Last night he said he expected an abortion referendum next year, though its terms would have to await Dáil deliberations. But he would not impose a three-line whip of the type that drove five members out of the parliamentary party over the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, including his friend Lucinda Creighton.
He also promised to honour existing agreements with the Independent Alliance and Fianna Fáil. But last night Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he would seek reassurances to make Ireland a fairer and more decent place’.
Mr Coveney said in his concession speech that Mr Varadkar had won ‘decisively’ and he would now work to unify the party. He said of his defeat, ‘My children will be pleased,’ as they would see more of him.
At his first press conference, Mr Varadkar spoke for more than 40 minutes outlining his priorities on everything from Brexit to a possible coalition with Fianna Fáil. Asked about his cabinet plans he said he would meet Mr Coveney earlier on, adding that his rival had ‘a fabulous campaign’ and ‘his stock has gone up in everyone’s estimation’. But ‘as regards other positions, I haven’t really given that any detailed consideration at this stage’, though he may leave Frances Fitzgerald as Tánaiste.
When asked by the Mail if he or anyone in his camp had offered supporters future positions, he said he himself did not but he could not account for his camp. On the issue of the Independent Alliance ministers, he would be happy to see them retain their current
An embrace for boyfriend Matt
Cabinet positions, he said.
He spoke to Enda Kenny twice yesterday and hinted he wants him to play a central role in his Government, stating: ‘We have agreed to talk over the next few days and to discuss any role he might have in the future. He is someone who has enormous ability, enormous corporate knowledge and enormous experience and I do hope he will be involved to assist the Government.’
Some in Fianna Fáil privately fear that, buoyed by recent opinion polls, he will trigger a snap election. But he said: ‘There are absolutely no plans for an early general election. An agreement is an agreement.’ When asked what his election meant personally for him, he said he hoped that his ‘unlikely story’ would encourage young people to believe that they can aspire to any ambition or even public office.
‘It is still a bit surreal, to be honest. It is still sinking in. I was thinking I might go to bed tonight and wake up Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport, wondering did everything that happened in the past two years really happen.
‘What I did say though was that Ireland is a wonderful country, and it is the type of country where if people are given the chance to succeed, they can succeed.
‘Any child growing up Ireland now, I hope they look at me and my unlikely story, and my background, and everything about me and perhaps say that there is no office in this State that they can’t aspire to, nothing that they can’t do if they believe in themselves.
‘Our job is to make sure that everyone has those opportunities because we don’t have equality of opportunity in this country.’
Aside from party politics, he said his first priority will be Brexit and the North.
He spoke to Arlene Foster immediately after his victory yesterday, and he also received correspondence from British Prime Minister Theresa May.
‘First among my priorities has to be Brexit and Northern Ireland. I had a very kind phone call from Arlene Foster.
‘She rang me in the break and we are going to, after the British elections, work in particular on Brexit and Northern Ireland.’
‘What I haven’t spoken about is special status.
‘We accept the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, in that it is part of the UK until the people there decide otherwise, and as a result of that Northern Ireland will leave the EU with the United Kingdom.’
But he said there needed to be ‘special arrangements’ for Northern Ireland.
He said it was ‘essential’ that Northern Ireland re-establishes its power sharing executive.
He also said he did not want to see Britain ‘punished’ in Brexit talks with the EU.
He also said another of his priorities included finalising the public sector pay deal.
‘There is also the public sector pay deal and I know that good progress has been made on that.
‘We would hope to conclude that well before the summer recess.’
Finally, he said it was ‘very disappointing’ that Donald Trump had pulled out of the Paris Accord and said: ‘Whether you are in Pittsburgh or Portlaoise, we all breathe the same air and we are all affected by the same climate.’
He said Trump’s decision was of ‘great regret’.
Comment – Page 14 senan.molony@dailymail.ie
‘My first priority has to be Brexit’