Leo Varadkar hailed as a ‘people person’ by RTÉ Liveline callers following resignation

Leo Varadkar has been hailed as a “people person” following his shock announcement to step down as Taoiseach and leader of the Fine Gael party. 

Flanked by party ministerial colleagues, Mr Varadkar said his tenure as Ireland’s head of government had been “the most fulfilling time” of his life but said he no longer felt he was the best person for the job in an emotional announcement this afternoon.

His resignation as Fine Gael leader is effective from Wednesday and he will step down as Taoiseach when a successor is selected.

On this afternoon’s Liveline show on RTÉ, callers included a host of current and former politicians across the country to discuss Varadkar’s shock announcement, his reasons and possible successors. 

The reaction to the Castleknock native’s resignation was overwhelmingly flattering with the majority praising Varadkar’s achievements and performance during his tenure. 

Tipperary’s Fine Gael Councillor Peggy Ryan described Mr Varadkar as an “honest, dedicated, hard-working and patriotic man”. 

Asked by host Joe Duffy why she thought the Taoiseach was resigning, Cllr Ryan said: “I think he’s a really honest person so if he said it's for political and personal reasons, then you can just take it as that.

“He’s not one to evade difficult questions or point the finger at other people. I think he’s just a very honest, dedicated, hard-working and patriotic man, and if he feels that he’s not going to go out and lie.

“I think he did a really good job. When I was co-opted in 2021 he really welcomed me in as a councillor. He’s a very welcoming face for female politicians and mothers, so I commend him for all of that.”

Former Fine Gael and current independent councillor for the Newcastle West district of Limerick, Jerome Scanlon, said he was “shocked” by Varadkar’s announcement.

“He has given seven years of sterling service to Fine Gael, to be fair to him. Between the council and whatever he’s been around for 20 years and that’s a long, long time,” Cllr Scanlon began.

“He’s very much a people person and he’s been a man that looked after the marginalised very well.

“And he did that also in rural areas. I remember raising an issue with him when he was Minister for Transport with regard to local improvement schemes. Now in fairness to Leo, he’s from west Dublin and he didn’t really know at the time what I was raising. 

“This was very different from his constituency in Dublin and he went away, he researched it and he ensured that 15% of the roads budget went for that purpose. So that’s one thing I will always credit him with.

"He was definitely a good listener,” Cllr Scanlon said, with host Joe Duffy replying that he was the fourth or fifth person to highlight that during the show.

As Mr Varadkar’s decision to step down as head of the three-party coalition will not lead to an automatic general election, the next leader of Fine Gael is set to become the next taoiseach.

Simon Harris is the bookies’ favourite to be the next leader of Fine Gael, while Helen McEntee, Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe are among the early contenders.