Leo in his own words...
‘Ah, chill, Willie. It’ll be the week after Xmas & the graveyard shift. You’re most welcome to ring in a request if you like.’
– Varadkar tweet responding to criticism from Willie O’Dea about his decision to DJ a late-night radio show. June 2016
‘I’m waiting for the moment I’m sitting on the toilet and some commentator somewhere decides that’s part of some strategy.’
– When asked if his plans to reform the social welfare system were part of a leadership bid. July 2016
‘The gutter is Bertie Ahern’s natural habitat.’
– September 2007
‘You’re no Sean Lemass, you’re no Jack Lynch and you’re no John Bruton. You’re a Garret FitzGerald. You’ve tripled the national debt. You’ve officially destroyed the country. So enjoy writing your boring articles in The Irish Times in a few years.’
– Aimed at Brian Cowen in the Dáil, March 2010
‘The banks are not getting another cent. Anglo Irish Bank is not getting another cent of our money. And any banks coming looking for more money will have to show us how they will impose losses on the bondholders. Not one more cent.’
– On bailing out the Irish banks, February 2011
‘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.’
– On coming out as gay, January 2015.
‘Fine Gael will be the party that represents those who get up early in the morning, work hard and want more for their children and their community.’
– On the campaign trail, May 2017
‘I’m a gay man. It’s not a secret, but it’s not something that everyone would necessarily know.’
– On coming out as gay, January 2015.
‘He brought this country back from the brink of economic collapse, and offered politically stability when countries across Europe were staring into the abyss.’
– In tribute to Enda Kenny when he announced he was stepping down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, May 2017.
‘Coalition with Fianna Fáil would be a little like a same-sex marriage: it would seem wrong at first but would probably work out fine in the end,’
– In a speech to Young Fine Gael members, November 2014
‘The dream of a grand coalition [of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael] would actually be a nightmare. It is why it cannot happen,’
– Leo Varadkar during the last general election campaign, February, 2016