Though the time span between St Patrick’s Day and Easter school holidays was expected to be calm over a four-day workweek, it turned out to be quite the contrary. The sudden announcement on Wednesday of Leo Varadkar stepping down as Ireland’s Prime Minister or Taoiseach came as a shock to everyone – his colleagues, political correspondents, even those journalists who shadow his every move. Since then, we’ve endeavoured to clarify the situation for our readers.
Varadkar, according to his own statements, didn’t make his decision until the previous weekend during his USA visit for St Patrick’s Day festivities. Journalists Jennifer Bray, Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn offer a detailed chronicle of his resignation’s build-up and fallout, tracing its genesis back to the festive season of the previous year. They delve into the Taoiseach’s “personal and political” justifications for his decision, cited in his Wednesday proclamation, and present a sequential recount of a week that has considerably altered the political scenario. However, according to Political Editor Pat Leahy, some insiders sensed a shift in Varadkar’s concentration as early as his 2022 comeback to the Taoiseach’s office.
The impact of Varadkar’s leadership will require time to be fully understood. Collective recollection of his tenure will be largely moulded by the events that succeed him. But this week, we present some preliminary evaluations of a Prime Ministerial term punctuated by two significant crises – Brexit and the Coronavirus outbreak. An essay by Fintan O’Toole scrutinises the paradox of a man who, though he was transformative in his identity, was not so through his actions. Fintan argues that Varadkar’s brilliance lay in his ability to “navigate contradictions rather than resolve them.” He adeptly straddled the fine line between the roles of a politician and a non-politician, his conservative tendencies, and an increasingly progressive public milieu.
Fintan’s assertion that Varadkar’s balancing act is nearing an end and that important decisions regarding Ireland’s future can’t be put off any longer seems to have had little impact on Fine Gael so far. Despite this, our primary editorial highlights the immediate support within the party for Simon Harris as Varadkar’s successor, without any substantial conversation centered on Harris’s beliefs or potential leadership style. Interestingly, although Harris has had a significant presence for over ten years, the editorial suggests that he remains a somewhat mysterious figure, with a varied governmental record and limited expertise in critical areas such as the economy and Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that Harris’s dynamism could rejuvenate a tired-seeming party. However, the central query is what the values of Fine Gael will be under Harris’s term in office.
China’s food couriers often face tough conditions, as they’re not treated well by online ordering platforms, many of which are accused of lacking compassion. The issue of substance over style in politics surfaces again in Cliff Taylor’s column, ‘Simon Harris’s social media prowess doesn’t substitute for real policy’, along with illuminating insights from Jack Horgan-Jones about the party’s vision for the future. Ciarán Cannon, one of approximately 12 Fine Gael TDs not seeking re-election, emphasizes that the party has neglected its role as listener.
An interview with the mother of the late Annie McCarrick, Nancy, has shed new light on the Garda investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the young American back in 1993. The piece is by Aine Ryan. In celebration of journalist Nell McCafferty’s 80th birthday, we gathered reflections of several individuals on the renowned woman’s accomplishments.
In sports news, comprehensive coverage is provided of Ireland’s draw against Belgium, reinforcing John O’Shea’s argument for an extended stint as manager.
Our Friday night edition was hastily revised with the dreadful news of a gun attack at a concert venue near Moscow. Updated information can be read about this tragic event, which resulted in 133 fatalities and for which the Islamic State has assumed responsibility.
In the World section, our London-based journalist, Mark Paul, manages to secure an interview with Andy Burnham, an ex-minister from the British Labour party who is campaigning for his third mayoral term in Manchester. Simultaneously, Keith Duggan, our representative correspondent in Washington, seeks answers to the question of what happened to the US vice-president, Kamala Harris. Alongside this, Denis Staunton, our correspondent assigned to China, presents an intriguing account of the nation’s living standards and economic condition via the life-story of a food delivery individual based in Beijing.
Additionally, don’t miss out on the comprehensive read by Lauren Murphy on Beyoncé. Delve into Conor Pope’s 50 clever strategies for travelling, and explore our extensive range of the latest reviews on books, music, and films.
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, Editor.