Oireachtas

Profile: Leo Varadkar (FG)

Dublin West: First TD elected of four

Leo Varadkar celebrates being re-elected with his mother Miriam and supporters at the Dublin West count centre at Phibblestown near Ongar. Photograph: Alan Betson
Leo Varadkar celebrates being re-elected with his mother Miriam and supporters at the Dublin West count centre at Phibblestown near Ongar. Photograph: Alan Betson
Sun Feb 28 2016 - 00:43

Leo Varadkar, 37, is being tipped as a future leader of Fine Gael party and is almost certain to retain his position as Minister for Health. Varadkar was first elected to Fingal County Council in 2004 with 4,894 votes, the highest vote in the State. He won a Dáil seat in 2007 and became the party’s spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment until 2010 and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2010-2011. He was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2011 to 2014 when he became Minister for Health. Varadkar is also the first Cabinet Minister to come out as a gay man. – SARAH BARDON