Latest news with #Varadkar
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘I have tried to be honest and frank including mistakes and regrets as well as triumphs' – Leo Varadkar set to publish memoir this September
He signed a six-figure book deal with Sandycove, an imprint of the publisher Penguin, last year following a bidding war for the rights to his autobiography that involved nine publishers. The former leader of Fine Gael, who resigned as both taoiseach and party leader in a shock announcement last April, said he has 'tried to be honest and frank' in his account. The book, which is titled Speaking My Mind, will be released on September 11. 'I served in government at one of the most interesting periods in history - the aftermath of the economic crash, Brexit, transformative referendums and the pandemic,' he said, sharing the cover of the book to social media earlier today. "The book is both personal and political and I hope it will give the reader new insights into that time. I have tried to be honest and frank including mistakes and regrets as well as triumphs.' Mr Varadkar was awarded the title of 'Hauser Leader' at Harvard University's Kennedy School's Centre for Public Leadership earlier this year, where he is currently guest lecturing. In a statement released by his publisher when he signed with them last year, Mr Varadkar said: 'I am really enjoying writing my story and I was keen to do so while it was still fresh in my head. It's as much a personal memoir as it is a book about political history. "There is so much people know already about my time at the top but there is almost as much that they don't. I have the freedom now to say things I could not while holding office and I have enough distance to reflect on the mistakes I made as much as what was achieved.' The former Fine Gael leader was elected to the Dáil in Dublin West in 2007 at the age of 28. He contested the party leadership election following the resignation of Enda Kenny in 2017 and was elected taoiseach that year at the age of 38. Mr Varadkar is one of a number of former taoisigh to publish his memoirs, including Brian Cowen and the late Albert Reynolds. In 2008, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern agreed a €400,000-plus publishing deal with Cornerstone Publishing, a subsidiary company of US publishers Random House.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to be ‘honest and frank' in memoir set for release in September
FORMER TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar is set to release a memoir in September titled Speaking My Mind. In a post to social media, Varadkar remarked that the book is 'both personal and political' and that he hopes to 'give new insights' into his time in government. Varadkar was a TD for the Dublin West constituency from 2007 to 2024 and served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020, and again from 2022 until his shock resignation last year. He also served as minister across several portfolios. Last March, he announced his intention to step down as Taoiseach and remarked: 'After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job.' Advertisement He added: 'I have nothing else lined up or in mind. No definite personal or political plans, but I am looking forward to having the time to think about them.' And in July, Varadkar then confirmed that he wouldn't stand in the upcoming 2024 general election. He remarked that the 'time has come to explore new options and opportunities' and that he never viewed himself as a 'career politician'. In the time since, Varadkar was named as a guest lecturer on public leadership as part of a new role as 'Hauser Leader' at Harvard University's Kennedy School Centre. He also landed a role with international public relations company Penta Group as a member of its Global Advisory Board and went to South Africa with former special forces soldier Ray Goggins to test his extreme outdoor expedition skills. Speaking on his upcoming book – due for release on 11 September – Varadkar said he has 'tried to be honest and frank, including mistakes and regrets as well as triumphs'. Varadkar added that he served in government 'at one of the most interesting periods in history – the aftermath of the economic crash, Brexit , transformative referendums and the pandemic .' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Life after politics can bring relief but transition is not always easy
How as taoiseach do you go from a schedule that is packed with world leader engagements, media briefings, Dáil questions, and international travel to nothing? 'I'm calling it a gap year, where I have a chance to try lots of different things,' said Leo Varadkar as he prepared to scale South Africa's Drakensberg mountains as part of a survivor-style TV programme with Cork popstar Lyra. Last year's election saw a significant level of attrition, some politicians leaving on their own terms, others being ejected from Leinster House by the voters. Mr Varadkar was among 30 TDs who announced that they would not be running in another election ahead of November's poll, accounting for more than 18% of Dáil members. A further four TDs, Barry Cowen, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Michael McNamara, and Kathleen Funchion, had won seats in the European Parliament so bowed out of national politics, while former finance minister Michael McGrath was elevated to the EU Commission. Another 26 politicians, including former health minister Stephen Donnelly and former minister for culture Catherine Martin ran to retain their seats but failed to get re-elected. Both have been keeping a low profile since leaving Government Buildings. The transition out of the Leinster House bubble can come as a significant shock, and not all former politicians land on their feet with highly paid lobbying roles as is sometimes the assumption, although many do. 'I've started driving again only in the last two or three weeks after, I don't know, like 13 years,' said Mr Varadkar, who had become accustomed to having a driver as part of the job, admitting in the RTÉ documentary to struggling with the ignition. In the six months since the general election, Mr Varadkar has kept busy with multiple trips to the US where he has been appointed spring 2025 Hauser Leader at Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership and has become an adviser with Washington-based PR company Penta. He is also writing an autobiography, due to be published in the autumn. 'I can be myself more' 'I don't have to care about what the media think, or what the party thinks, or even what the voters think, so I can just be myself more,' said Mr Varadkar. Others who have left political life include former government chief whip Paul Kehoe, who recently joined the board of directors of Wexford Food Producers Network. Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil stalwart Éamon Ó Cuív has been inaugurated as the 2025 president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge and has not ruled out a run for the Áras. 'I do think Fianna Fáil should have a candidate,' Mr Ó Cuív told the Galway Advertiser. 'If they were to ask me? I'd have to think about it; but I'm not looking for it.' In a turn of events, Denis Naughten has rejoined the Fine Gael party, confirming this during an emotional address at a party selection convention to fill his late brother John's seat on Roscommon County Council in February. Mr Naughten left Fine Gael in 2011 over the closure of Roscommon's emergency department, but continued to serve until last year as an Independent. Among the wave of Green Party members to lose their seats was former junior minister Joe O'Brien who has been appointed executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Former Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan is now 'quietly doing some work for a few clients' in the sustainable construction consulting area but is spending a lot more time with her children. 'I can't complain, which is saying something since I was very sorry to lose the seat,' said Ms Hourigan. Others who lost seats are back in politics through the Seanad route including Anne Rabbitte, Chris Andrews, Malcolm Noonan, and Pauline Tully. A sense of relief to be off the public representative hamster wheel is the common feeling among departed TDs, but life after politics is also a major transition which has not been universally easy. Patrick Costello: 'A lot of activism to do still' Adjusting to life after losing your seat can be frustrating as former Green Party TD Patrick Costello is learning. 'When you're in the Dáil it's deeply frustrating, but it's better to be inside and pissed off than outside and pissed off,' he says. 'It's frustrating, because there's still so many things you care about, you get into politics to change things, to make things better, and it's trying to find other outlets for that now. Patrick Costello: Trying to find other outlets to change things. 'There are plenty of times you see something and think 'I should be raising that, that's perfect for QPL [questions on promised legislation], that's perfect for a topical issues' and it's like, 'well, I haven't got access to that anymore'. 'The thing is, we're all still very committed, so there's still a lot of campaigning and activism to do. You're a little freer to speak when you're not in Government as well, which helps.' However, he is relieved to now have the luxury of not being obliged to use social media sites which he says can be a 'cesspit'. He is on the hunt for a job, but has enjoyed the extra time with his family. Joe McHugh: 'I'm going into business' Former education minister Joe McHugh is now preparing to enter the private sector. He is completing his dissertation as part of the final stages of a course in positive health coaching. 'I planned for the transition a couple of years ago when I started my master's,' he said. 'So that's going to be completed in the next few weeks. 'I'm going from a world as a public servant to business. It will be a big transition, but I'm really, really excited and looking forward to that.' In Government, Mr McHugh faced a backlash when he was appointed to the Gaeltacht brief by Enda Kenny without having a proper grasp of the language. However, he endeavoured to become fluent during his time in office and has now published a book on reconnecting with the cúpla focal. 'Like everything in life, once something ends there can be a void and certainly the book was great from that point of view as it allowed me to reconnect. I had a launch in Dublin, a launch in Donegal, one in Galway. It allowed me to reconnect, and to keep the connections up. Joe McHugh: 'Looking forward to the transition.' 'It was a way of staying relevant as a opposed to going off the side of the cliff of politics.' Mr McHugh says he has no regrets about his time in politics, but adds: 'What you sign up to as a politician is two words — public representative. 'You are the representative of people and that requires a vigilance 24/7, you have to be attentive, you have to be there, you have to be available. 'So I suppose the private life gets clouded. So the big transition for me is now, all of a sudden, I have a private life that I'm absolutely valuing.' Seán Sherlock: 'I'm getting to do the normal stuff' Former Labour Party TD Seán Sherlock has started a part-time master's in maritime law and has also dipped his toe in a 'small bit of consultancy work' for a local company. 'Life is good,' he said, adding that he is finally getting to do the 'normal stuff' in life. Seán Sherlock: Seeing my kids grow up in real time is a privilege.' In making the announcement not to stand for election again in October 2023, Mr Sherlock, who had served as a TD for Cork East since 2007, admitted that the impact of the Electoral Commission's constituency boundary changes had influenced his decision to walk away from political life. The redraw of the constituencies resulted in Mr Sherlock's home base of Mallow being moved from Cork East into Cork North Central. 'I'm very happy with my choice, I have no regrets, I'm spending a lot more time with my wife and kids. I am finding more time for the normal family things in life. 'I am seeing my kids growing up in real time which is an enormous privilege.' Mr Sherlock says the juggle now is about co-ordinating underage match drop-offs and running clubs. After 17 years of being in public life, he says, he did not realise the level of stress associated with the job, which was '24/7' until he stood back. 'Life has moved on and it's a different pace of life.' Ciaran Cannon: 'I miss aspects of it but am having a ball' Former minister of state Ciarán Cannon thought he was done with manifestos until he found himself writing up one for his newest gig. The Galway native was this month ratified as Cycling Ireland president for the next three years. He has also found a new day job with an online education company that has 50m learners across 193 countries, but which was founded by Mike Feerick who lives just 10 minutes away. Ciarán Cannon is now Cycling Ireland president. 'We had several cups of tea when I announced I would be stepping down, so it was like a slow courtship,' he jokes. 'I knew I wanted to keep working,' said Mr Cannon, who will turn 60 later this year. 'There were two things I was not prepared to compromise on — the first was that it had to be fully remote, and the second is it had to have a major societal benefit.' He now spends his working day at home, speaking to colleagues in Cape Town, Armenia, and Offaly and negotiating partnerships including a recent one with the Indian government. 'I miss aspects of it,' he says, pointing to his work as a junior minister, some of which he said was 'groundbreaking and really fulfilling'. However, this was not the same when he reverted to the backbenches, which was a significant factor in his decision to leave politics. Being away from politics has, along with cycling, allowed him to play and compose more music. 'I'm having a ball,' he says.
Extra.ie
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Inside Leo Varadkar's family life ahead of former Taoiseach's 'ultimate reset' on new RTE show
Leo Varadkar, along with Lyra, rap trio Kneecap, hurler Joe Canning, Olympian Thomas Barr, Camogie star Ashling Thompson and Paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane are all pushed to their physical and mental limits — and then some — in an upcoming series of wilderness challenges. The former Fine Gael leader stood down from his leadership roles last year, and said the time has come for him to 'explore new options and opportunities.' Now, Mr Varadkar is set to grace RTE screens again on Wednesday, May 14, as he is one of a host of celebrities appearing in Uncharted, an extreme outdoor expeditions show hosted by former special forces soldier Ray Goggins. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire The former Fine Gael leader is of Indian-Irish descent and was born to an Indian man and an Irish woman. He has two sisters. The family settled in Dublin in 1973, having moved from the UK to India and back to Ireland. Pre-politics, Varadkar practised as a non-consultant hospital doctor and general practitioner, having obtained a degree in Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. During the 2015 campaign for same-sex marriage, Varadkar came out as gay and was the first serving Irish minister to do so. A young Leo Varadkar. Varadkar has represented the Dublin West constituency since 2007 and has held various ministerial roles within the Irish government, including Taoiseach and Tánaiste. Following Enda Kenny's resignation as Fine Gael leader, Varadkar took over — beating Simon Coveney on the way. He became the youngest-ever Taoiseach in 2017, aged 38 years old. Simon Harris has still taken over that accolade, taking over as Taoiseach this year, aged 37 years old. Varadkar was also Ireland's first openly gay Taoiseach and the first Taoiseach from an ethnic minority group. Following Enda Kenny's resignation as Fine Gael leader, Leo Varadkar took over — beating Simon Coveney on the way. Pic: Mark Stedman/ He served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2022 to 2024 before announcing his resignation. He was Tánaiste from 2020 to 2022. Other roles Varadkar has held include Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport; Minister for Health and Minister for Social Protection. Varadkar spoke publicly for the first time about being gay in January 2015, telling RTÉ Radio 1 that it is 'not something that defines me. It is part of my character I suppose.' It is understood he started dating cardiologist Dr Matt Barrett in the same year, with the pair often snapped together throughout the years and Varadkar himself even giving an insight into his relationship. The pair are based on Dublin's South Circular Road in a cushy three-bedroom house which Barrett purchased for more than €800,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pic: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The pair are based on Dublin's South Circular Road in a cushy three-bedroom house which Barrett purchased for more than €800,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being open in sharing their day-to-day lives online, the couple have more recently decided to step back from being so public, with Varadkar telling The Ciara Phelan podcast they had a 'desire for a certain degree of privacy.' Leo Varadkar with his partner Matt Barrett during a Six Nations rugby match between Ireland and France in 2019. Pic:Earlier this year, the outgoing politician lifted the lid on his future with Matt and the possibility of having children, as he explained it was 'nice to give them back.' Speaking to Cork podcasters Julie Haynes and Brenda Dennehy on Left on Read, Varadkar admitted children weren't in his future. 'He's definitely my partner for life or at least I hope he is, talking about marriage but no immediate plans to do so,' Varadkar said. 'And no particular reason to do so.' The former Taoiseach's new TV stunt comes not long after he secured a position with the international public relations firm Penta Group, joining its Global Advisory Board. He began his new role on April 10. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Penta Group operates offices across the US, Europe, and Asia, including in Dublin. In January 2023, the company expanded its reach by acquiring the Irish PR firm Hume Brophy, founded in 2005 by John Hume, son of the late SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Dublin businessman Eoin Brophy.
The National
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Humza Yousaf and Leo Varadkar call for India-Pakistan peace
The former first minister, who is of Pakistani heritage, and former Irish leader, who has Indian heritage, penned a joint letter urging the countries to 'resist the pull of confrontation'. A terrorist attack on non-Muslims in near the town of Pahalgam in the disputed Kashmir region claimed by both India and Pakistan in April has seen tensions flare between the two nuclear powers, with India blaming Pakistan for the attacks. Pakistan rejects the claim. India bombed Pakistan, claiming to target 'terrorist infrastructure' in the Muslim country, with Pakistan saying it had shot down five enemy air force jets and a drone. At least 26 people have been killed by Indian raids, including two three-year-old girls after a mosque was bombed in Bahawalpur, Punjab. Yousaf and Varadkar wrote: 'We write this letter not only as former political leaders from Scotland and Ireland, but as sons of South Asia: One of us of Pakistani heritage, the other of Indian heritage. We love both these countries, their histories, cultures, and peoples helped to shape who we are, and inspired our commitment to public life. 'It is precisely because of that affection for both countries that we urge both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions, and resist the pull of confrontation. READ MORE: John Swinney 'deeply concerned' after India fires missiles across Pakistan border 'The path of conflict may rouse national pride in the moment—but it diminishes all of us in the long run, with civilians always paying the highest price. While recognising both countries have a right to defend themselves, within the confines of international law, peace, however imperfect, is always more courageous than war.' They said that their 'experience in the UK and Ireland' had shown them that while reconciliation between adversaries 'is never easy' the 'prize of peace is always worth it'. They added: 'It requires cool heads, moral courage, and leaders who see beyond the immediate pressures of politics to the longer arc of history. 'To the millions of people around the globe – be they in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, the Gulf and right across the world – who trace their heritage to India and Pakistan, do not let events in South Asia fracture our communities abroad. 'We must resist division and reject hate. Let your solidarity with your country of origin never come at the expense of peace with your neighbours where you live. The ties that bind us – culture, language, food, family, faith – must not become battlegrounds.' India's bombing raids came just hours after it was announced that the country had signed a major post-Brexit free trade deal with the UK. Speaking before PMQs on Wednesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'Rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain. We are engaging urgently with both countries as well as other international partners, encouraging dialogue, de-escalation and the protection of civilians.'
