- published: 07 Feb 2011
- views: 37622
Leo Varadkar (born 18 January 1979) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin West constituency since June 2007. He is currently the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, being appointed on 9 March 2011.
Varadkar was born in Dublin, the son of an Indian father (a retired GP in Blanchardstown) and an Irish mother. He was educated at King's Hospital School, Palmerstown and Trinity College, Dublin where he qualified as a medical doctor, and was a member of the Young Fine Gael branch, as was fellow 2007 entrant to Dáil Éireann, Lucinda Creighton.
Varadkar is a member of the Oireachtas rugby team.
Varadkar was co-opted to Fingal County Council in 2003 to replace Sheila Terry. At the 2004 local elections, he was elected to the council to represent the Castleknock local electoral area, polling the highest first preference vote in the country. He is a former vice-president of the Youth of the European People's Party and an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Program. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. He was party spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2007–2010.
Enda Kenny (born 24 April 1951) is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.
Kenny has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Mayo since 1975, having succeeded his father Henry Kenny. He is the longest-serving TD currently in Dáil Éireann, which makes him the incumbent Father of the Dáil.
Kenny led Fine Gael in the 2011 general election. He subsequently brokered an agreement with the Labour Party and formed a coalition government on 9 March 2011. He is Fine Gael's first Taoiseach since John Bruton from 1994 to 1997, and the first Fine Gael leader to win government in an election since Garret FitzGerald in 1982.
Enda Kenny was born in the village of Islandeady near Castlebar, County Mayo in 1951, the third child of five. He was educated locally at St. Patrick's National School in Cornanool and St. Gerald's College (De La Salle) in Castlebar. Kenny subsequently attended St Patrick's College of Education in Dublin and University College Galway. He briefly worked as a primary school teacher, and is a Gaeilgeoir.
Leo Varadkar on Prime Time
Irish Minister Leo Varadkar delivers heartfelt speech calling for same-sex marriage
Irish Health Minister Leo Varadkar Comes out as Gay on Live radio
Aprés Match: Tonight with Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Health Dublin Castle June 2015
Leo Varadkar gets hit with a microphone during abortion debate
Joan Burton on Leo Varadkar coming out
Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD takes the Ice Bucket Challenge
Vincent Browne destroys Leo Varadkar
Mary Lou McDonald and Leo Varadkar on RTE's A Week in Politics - January 22
TheJournal.ie: Eoghan Murphy TD on Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader
Leo Varadkar on adoption by gay couples
Leo Varadkar
Minister Leo Varadkar at BTYSTE 2016