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I think he is a decent man. I wish him well. I do not know him well though he and I once attended the same pilates class.
IT WAS ONE of the most unexpected lines to ever be uttered in the Dáil chamber during the election of a Taoiseach.
The chamber, the public gallery, the press gallery and Leo Varadkar’s family – who were seated in the ‘distinguished guests’ area – erupted in the laughter when Gerry Adams brought up his fitness class with the Fine Gael leader.
Varadkar later thanked him for “revealing our little secret”, adding that they had in fact attended the same pilates class on a number of occasions.
The image of the new Taoiseach and the Sinn Féin leader on their mats, stretching in the Oireachtas gym, may be a difficult one to shake off.
But, perhaps it could be taken as a sign of things to come under Leo’s tenure? A Taoiseach who puts an end to Civil War politics, digs about the past …. who is willing to work (anything) out, even with longtime rivals.
That seemed to be a message that Varadkar wanted to convey anyway.
“While we will clash in this Dáil, I want to offer a genuine willingness to work together on matters… That applies to all parties,” he said.
The opposition was far from convinced, however.
The words “right-wing” and “Thatcherite” were bandied about – as voices from the far side of the chamber speculated he would be a Taoiseach who would divide rather than unite.
At 38, Leo Varadkar is the youngest Taoiseach to date. His predecessor, Enda Kenny, told the Dáil he was the man to lead a new generation.
Not everyone was convinced.
“Maybe the Taoiseach-to-be should get to know Sinn Féin,” Adams offered.
Leo Varadkar could be a Taoiseach who sees the level of homelessness and the state of our health services, including mental health services, and says, ‘No more, not on my watch’.
Laughter all round
There was plenty of humour and playful swipes from the opposition throughout the two-hour session that saw Varadkar elevated to the most senior job in Irish politics.
Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin got in a dig at Fine Gael’s Noel Rock – suggesting that perhaps Varadkar had started off on the right foot, by not having Rock nominate him. (Rock nominated Enda Kenny on four occasions last year, but later became one of the strongest voices to call for him to step down).
Taking aim at another Fine Gael backbencher, Martin said he happened to agree with Kate O’Connell’s controversial assessment of Varadkar’s supporters as ‘choirboys’ lining up to back the new boss.
The Dublin TD’s comments, you may remember, landed her in hot water during the leadership contest.
To laughter, Martin said he shared her view of his rival party.
Fianna Fáil – in line with the deal they agreed last year to prop up the Fine Gael-led Government – abstained from yesterday’s vote.
A new Taoiseach
During the speeches, Enda Kenny was constantly whispering in Varadkar’s ear – perhaps passing on some last minute advice.
“Good luck to the last fella,” Mick Wallace chimed in from across the chamber – before the votes were cast and the result came in: 57 votes in favour, 50 votes against – Leo Varadkar was to be the new Taoiseach.
Rounds of applause ensued, as the chamber rose to its feet. Handshakes all round from his Cabinet (or those that hoped they would be in his Cabinet) and a notable friendly handshake from the man he defeated to take the top job – Simon Coveney.
In the blink of an eye there was a quick seat swap. Varadkar took the helm, as Kenny stepped aside.
But what will Varadkar be like in office?
Standing in the Dáil, with his beaming parents looking down upon him, Varadkar said the Government he would lead would neither be left or right, but one of the “new European centre”.
He added:
While others in the House might be obsessed with the political debates of the 1980s, I can assure them that I am not nor will my Government be – we will be focused on the solutions of the 21st Century and the future.
Varadkar said he would seek to build a “republic of opportunity” where “every citizen gets a fair go and has the opportunity to succeed”.
A right-wing Taoiseach?
Many opposition TDs said they found Varadkar to be a decent man, even if they fundamentally disagreed with his politics.
“He won’t be anything other than the most right-wing Taoiseach this State has ever seen,” said Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly, while Solidarity-PBP Ruth Coppinger said Varadkar was a ”hardliner for capitalism” and a representative for the “rich and the elite”.
Adams was another to say he is “too right wing”. No amount of “pilates, frappuccinos, skinny lattes, avocado mash and jogging” would change that, he insisted.
Coppinger urged Varadkar to reach deep down for his “socialist vein”, while the Green Party’s Eamon Ryan urged him to be more like his father, Ashok Varadkar, who recently admitted in an interview with The Irish Independent that he was a socialist at heart. Varadkar’s father looked particularly amused at this contribution.
Before Varadkar left the chamber, an orderly queue formed to shake his hand.
Then, it was then out to the Plinth. Flanked by his party colleagues, the new Taoiseach emerged out into the sun, to a loud applause.
Before getting into his car to speed off to see President Michael D Higgins, he stopped to shake the hands of a few tourists who just happened upon the fanfare during their visit to the National Library.
After picking up his seal of office at the Áras, it was back to Government Buildings to dole out the good and bad news – who would be in Cabinet, and who would miss the cut?
Journalists waited by the stairs to see who they could spot heading down the ministerial corridor. Some – like veteran Michael Ring, who appeared certain he was heading for promotion – could not hide their excitement. Others – like Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who was demoted from Jobs and Enterprise – received less welcome news.
With the Cabinet reshuffled, Varadkar listed all the tasks that he wanted them to meet head on.
How the new leader and his dream team will perform? Only time will tell.
But Richard Boyd Barrett hit the nail on the head when he said that after all the drama of leadership contest and election, it’s time for the Government to get down to business.
What people want is hope, not hype. They want policies, not pantomime.
Now that the theatre is over, Varadkar has come out on top. But, this is where the hard work begins.
Another taxpayer funded waster, it’s such a pity that expensive talking shop wasn’t abolished
@Jock Doyle: please explain that to me . Your throw away comment with no evidence or reasoning behind it , is a poor way to start your side of an argument.
@David Fox: non elected, a room full of wafflers, talking nonsense and getting paid for it courtesy of real working people
@Jock Doyle: isn’t that government puppet, Paul Reid ( €400K + HSE spoofer) , running the talking shop???
@Frank Mc Carthy: another bollox
@Jock Doyle: ” spoofer” is the correct term
@Frank Mc Carthy: no hes not..
@Jock Doyle: she talks a lot of sense, unlike yourself. Only problem is, who’s listening?
@Kevin Kerr: do ye trolls / stalkers get any break of a bank holiday weekend??
@Jock Doyle: Define ‘real working people’ and also ‘fake working people’?
@Jock Doyle: the criminalisation approach is a “tax payer funded waster” and the money from drugs all goes to crime. But sure let’s keep lining the kinehans pockets and putting kids in jail for nothing while violent sociopaths walk free.
@Jock Doyle: sure look at the barbie kardashin case in court the other day, trans male to female prisoner, threated to harm both a female prisoner and female prison officer, used the term rape , freely admitted this in court and the jury found them not guilty, yes lets makenit easier for criminals to get away with crime
The people giving out about because they don’t like the Seanad should actually read this article and the report it describes, because it has the potential to change our country for the better, to save lives and communities, and to prevent so much unnecessary pain and suffering. We all owe it to ourselves to support this.
@mani mus: And many young males have a tendency to drive faster than is safe for them and other people. Should we decriminalise speeding etc. ?
@thomas molloy: can you present a solid, evidence-based argument showing that prohibition of speeding has failed, and decriminalisation would lead to better outcomes? If so, write your report and let’s see it. If not, you’re not adding anything useful to this discussion.
@mani mus: Decriminalisation would kill and maim more drivers and other people and traumatise more families.
@mani mus: BS!
@mani mus: Do you think they have the attention span ??
Ludicrous article,as you’d expect from this author! The idea of locking up criminals is primarily to protect wider society, by acting as a deterrent while also taking the offender off the streets for a period of time. Whether it’s off any ‘benefit’ to the perpetrator is way down the list of concerns, frankly who cares? Prison is a punishment, not a focus group or rehab centre!
@Jonn: well, if you decriminalise, they won’t be criminals, so you won’t need to lock them up. The question you need to ask yourself is, why? Why would people who are at least as intelligent as you, and who have spent years studying the whole issue of drugs, conclude that criminalising drug use has failed, and makes things worse for everyone in society?
@Jonn: you are clearly far removed from the issues around drug use and drug addiction..
@Stiles:
Ask any business owner or shop owner in the inner city who’s on the front line of dealing with drug users hassling and intimidating staff,stealing,hassling customers, drug paraphernalia lying around on streets etc etc if they think the current ‘turn a blind eye’ soft policing approach is working..for anybody,including drug users..and we both know what the answer would be!
@Jonn: so it’s all right to get blind drunk in a pub after all it’s socially acceptable to buy drink it puts money into the government coffers? Drink causes as much if not more harm than drugs. I seen an interview with a US Sheriff he said that in over 20 yrs he’d never been called to a domestic involving cannabis but he’d lost count on the amount involving alcohol. Coke is readily available in every town in Ireland, it’s as easy to get as a takeaway pizza. Heroin is also easy to get aswell. Addiction is a terrible thing , like blindly believing what your told without looking into it yourself. Portugal has seen a decrease in street crime since it set up its programme, I’m not saying it suits every addict but it dies the majority & hopefully either a bit of compassion , we will do the same
@Peter James Carroll: but think about that difference between the alcohol being legal and the cannabis not being…
@Jonn: You somehow managed to completely miss the point of the article in your rush to peddle your outdated and inaccurate views. The evidence is so overwhelming now that the debate has moved on. The current laws, by your own admission, have failed. It’s about time we base our laws on evidenced based research and proven experience. Your inability to accept reality is prolonging the harm and creating the scenario you claim to want to fix. You can’t have it both ways. Please catch up or get out of the way.
@Jonn: you just described our current broken system… criminalising people for drugs has achieved nothing.. its made the problem worse.. if you can’t see that then I don’t know what else to say to ya. youre entitled to your opinion even if it is wrong.. have a good weekend..
@Jonn: they used to lock up men for being gay too.
The only safe way for an addict to deal with drugs is not take drugs. Because a substance is legal for personal use doesn’t mean that deaths with stop. The author tells us the “evidence says otherwise” yet and I may be mistake there is not one link posted to show that evidence. I worked for 13 years in the field, am in recovery myself. I have met literally thousands of addicts over the last 20 years. Those that use have an unmanageability about their life’s that is not good for anyone why advocate for such unhappiness?
@Mick O’K: quite right. Time to ban booze. Addicts just can’t help themselves. Lock up the wine drinkers and grape growers.
@Mick O’K: she posted the link to the oireachtas report on the same link you can find all the recordings of the oireachtas committee on drugs public meetings where experts from around the world were brought in to give evidence. theres so many incorrect issues with your comment it shows no matter what your experience is you too are wrong. if you really wanted harm reduction you’d be onboard with decriminalisation. absolutely nothing is achieved with prohibition.
Boredom can function like a gateway drug for addictions. It’s one of the unintended consequences of our welfare cash system. Importing of almost all factory produced products from abroad is a cause of unemployment amongst ordinary people and they become idle with cash.
@thomas molloy: if you want people working, you must be in favour of decriminalisation – a drugs conviction doesn’t exactly help you find a job. Then, maybe the money we could save from ending wasteful, failed prohibition policies could be reinvested in the kind of disadvantaged communities you’re worried about. Educate and support people to build meaningful, productive lives for themselves.
@mani mus: Prevention is best.
Joint Committee on Drugs….reporting on Cannibas usage….anyone else see the joke there :)
Drug use – decriminalised or not – brings drug dealers. All this element care about is money and you only have to look at their tactics to see the mayhem opening the doors will cause. As for a possession conviction stopping you getting a visa – the US Australia etc don’t want drug users coming to their country so like it or lump it…..don’t get a possession charge. And I sure as hell don’t want a habitual drug user running my kids youth club or teaching them so they should be vetted and possession of drugs should be on their record (although with the prevalence of coke and weed these days I conceded it’s already highly likely to be happening). I grew up in a similar area to the author but disagree fundamentally with her stance here.
@Niall Whyte: drug dealers like Heineken and Diageo?
@Niall Whyte: it’s not her stance it’s the whole oireachtas committees stance. they worked from a report from a citizen assembly who worked from a report from a earlier oireachtas committee.. all arriving at the same conclusion
you didn’t even read the article, easier to jump to the drugs are bad BS. the conclusion the that decriminalisation is going to reduce harm came from facts..you can have your own opinion but you can’t have your own facts.. open your mind to the fact that decriminalisation / regulation are not an endorsement to take drugs.. its an attempt to reduce the harm caused by them.. and for you to insinuate that all people who use drugs are bad and shouldn’t be around kids while ignoring alcohol is sold in most GAA/sports clubhouses is funny.. you’re completely ignorant on this topic.. no matter how many reassuring thumbs up you get..
No country has found an answer to the problem so don’t expect Ireland to do so.
@JP: it’s not about solving the problem, it’s about making the harm as small as possible.
@JP: There are no complete solutions in any aspect of the human mess, but we are supposed to ‘try’ and minimise the problems. Imo Irish people aren’t psychologically ready for trying anything in the realm of change. Currently we can even tie our laces, let along run the race.
@JP: Let’s never try then. Ok
Anybody unfortunate enough to end up depending on drugs to get them through life, a path we all travel, should most definitely be helped by our society, the current government of the day etc…… while those caught in the control of, transporting of, selling of and the profiting of drug (death) dealing, it’s those that should be given severe sentences, none of the suspended or over lenient small sentences we continue to see. Severe sentences would and should act as a deterrent, keeping them off our streets and in some part saving our communities from being further ravaged and destroyed by illegal drugs and those that carry it out! STOP making it so complicated, it’s not rocket science! What we need is a government and a society to tackle drugs head without all the bluster!
@Niall Binéad: Reading recent headlines the Govt courtesy of the Gardai are making big inroads into the dealing etc. Admittedly more needs to and will be done… there’s no ‘Blustering’ actions speak for themselves. It’s a BIG problem and HIGHLY organised not too easy the world over. Going by your comment anyone would think it’s easy and only here in Ireland and of course the Government’s fault.
George and Lynn
Thanks for letting me through to do my job last week miss Lynn white van man ,
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5ll3ler7o.amp
Use up to date stats
Lynn, (there’s a bandwagon) says it all really.
Lets get down with the kids ‘gino’, and be “cool”.
We can stay relevant, by undermining Law and order.
Addicts need help in the form of rehab, not by decriminalising illegal drugs.
@Ed Brennan: Ed, ‘Rehab’ itself is a load of BS for a lot of people. Drug use has no place in the Legal system.
It is high time ( no pun intended) to legalise the growing of cannabis for personal use. The issue of opiates and other major drugs needs a health led treatment approach. If the money is taken away from criminal gangs society will benefit.
This needs to be supported and any with concerns or even possible fundamental disagreements on it should voice them constructively. Not only does all well researched scientific evidence support what Senator Ruane is saying but proof of the pudding is available through the lived experiences and empirical evidence which Portugal has provided through its brave move in its legislation on drugs. We must follow the proof and facts rather than our blind biases.
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