Leo Varadkar

**Leo Eric Varadkar** ( ; born 18 January 1979) is an Irish politician and physician. He was the Taoiseach from 2022 to 2024, previously serving in the role from 2017 to 2020. He was the Minister for Defence from 2017 to 2020. From 2020 to 2022, he was the Tánaiste.

He was the Leader of Fine Gael, elected in June 2017 to replace Enda Kenny. He has served as Minister for Social Protection since May 2016. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2007 for the Dublin West constituency.

In March 2024, Varadkar announced his resignation as Taoiseach and Simon Harris was soon elected as his replacement.

## Early career

In 2004 he was co-opted onto Fingal County Council and served as deputy mayor before his election to Dáil Éireann. He was promoted to the Front Bench by Enda Kenny as Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, remaining in this position until a 2010 reshuffle when he became Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

After the formation of the Coalition Government in March 2011, he was appointed Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. A cabinet reshuffle in July 2014 saw Varadkar appointed to the position of Minister for Health. During his tenure he became the first openly gay Irish government minister.

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, he was appointed Minister for Social Protection.

### 2017 Fine Gael leadership election

After the resignation of Enda Kenny as Leader of Fine Gael in May 2017, Varadkar announced his candidacy for party leader. He faced Minister for Housing Simon Coveney in the Fine Gael leadership election. He won the election on 2 June 2017.

On 14 June, he was nominated as Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann and this nomination was approved by the President of Ireland. Varadkar became Ireland's first openly gay Taoiseach, as well as the youngest and the first of half-Indian descent.

### Defeat

On 26 June 2020, it was announced that Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had agreed to form a coalition government, marking the first time the two main Irish parties had formed a government together. As part of the agreement, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin held the office of Taoiseach until December 2022, while Varadkar took the position of Tánaiste. The pair then swapped roles after roughly two and a half years, with Varadkar retaking the position of Taoiseach for the remainder of the coalition's term. Martin was elected Taoiseach by the Dáil on 27 June.

### Second term as Taoiseach

On 17 December 2022, Varadkar was appointed as Taoiseach for a second time, following Micheál Martin's resignation to President Michael D. Higgins.

On 13 April 2023, Varadkar met with U.S. President Joe Biden at Farmleigh House during his four-day visit to the island of Ireland.

On 6 May 2023, Varadkar, along with President Michael D. Higgins, attended the Coronation of Charles III and Queen Camilla, marking the first time a serving taoiseach attended the coronation of a British monarch.

On 20 March 2024, Varadkar announced his intention to step down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, saying that he was no longer "the best person for the job". He said his "reasons for stepping down are both personal and political". He said that his resignation as Fine Gael leader would be with immediate effect, and that he would continue in office as Taoiseach pending the election of a new party leader on 6 April.

## Personal life

Varadkar is openly gay He is first openly gay cabinet member in Ireland.

His partner is Matthew Barrett.

## Other websites

- Leo Varadkar's page on the Fine Gael website

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **embed**: yes
- **office4**: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- **taoiseach4**: Micheál Martin
- **term start4**: 27 June 2020
- **term end4**: 17 December 2022
- **predecessor4**: Heather Humphreys
- **successor4**: Simon Coveney
- **office5**: Minister for Defence (Ireland), Minister for Defence
- **taoiseach5**: Himself
- **term start5**: 14 June 2017
- **term end5**: 27 June 2020
- **predecessor5**: Enda Kenny
- **successor5**: Simon Coveney
- **office6**: Minister for Social Protection
- **taoiseach6**: Enda Kenny
- **term start6**: 6 May 2016
- **term end6**: 14 June 2017
- **predecessor6**: Joan Burton
- **successor6**: Regina Doherty
- **office7**: Minister for Health (Ireland), Minister for Health
- **taoiseach7**: Enda Kenny
- **term start7**: 11 July 2014
- **term end7**: 6 May 2016
- **predecessor7**: James Reilly (Irish politician), James Reilly
- **successor7**: Simon Harris (politician), Simon Harris
- **office8**: Minister for Transport (Ireland), Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
- **taoiseach8**: Enda Kenny
- **term start8**: 9 March 2011
- **term end8**: 11 July 2014
- **predecessor8**: Pat Carey
- **successor8**: Paschal Donohoe


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-suffix**: Teachta Dála, TD
- **image**: Leo Varadkar, December 2022 (cropped).jpg
- **caption**: Varadkar in 2022
- **order**: 14th
- **office**: Taoiseach
- **president**: Michael D. Higgins
- **1blankname**: Tánaiste
- **1namedata**: Micheál Martin
- **term start**: 17 December 2022
- **term end**: 9 April 2024
- **predecessor**: Micheál Martin
- **successor**: Simon Harris
- **president1**: Michael D. Higgins
- **1blankname1**: Tánaiste
- **term start1**: 14 June 2017
- **term end1**: 27 June 2020
- **predecessor1**: Enda Kenny
- **successor1**: Micheál Martin
- **office2**: Tánaiste
- **taoiseach2**: Micheál Martin
- **term start2**: 27 June 2020
- **term end2**: 17 December 2022
- **predecessor2**: Simon Coveney
- **successor2**: Micheál Martin
- **office3**: Leader of Fine Gael
- **deputy3**: Simon Coveney
- **term start3**: 2 June 2017
- **term end3**: 24 March 2024
- **predecessor3**: Enda Kenny
- **successor3**: Simon Harris
- **office9**: Teachta Dála
- **term start9**: 2007 Irish general election, May 2007
- **constituency9**: Dublin West (Dáil constituency), Dublin West
- **birth place**: Dublin, Ireland
- **party**: Fine Gael
- **partner**: Matthew Barrett
- **education**: The King's Hospital
- **alma mater**: Trinity College Dublin