Over the upcoming weekend, it was revealed by the earlier Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, that he had intentions to commit his life journey to paper in the form of an autobiography. The book is being slated to release in the coming autumn season of the year ahead.
After close competition, Sandycove, the imprint by Penguin Ireland, was successful in acquiring the rights to this autobiography via a nine-way bidding war. The agreement for the book authored by the 45-year-old political member of Fine Gael was speculated to be in the six-figure range.
In a press statement released to announce this venture, Varadkar stated his appreciation for the newfound liberty that he now enjoys. He can now communicate his perspective and reflections in a way he refrained from while actively serving in office, including his own failures and the accomplishments achieved during his tenure.
A handful of key themes have been anticipated in his book.
He is projected to delve into his bi-racial background, and how he primarily identified as Irish, neglecting his Indian heritage throughout his younger years, only later recognising and valuing it in his adult life.
The transitioning of his social views will prove to be an interesting topic sketched in his narrative. Once a prototypical Christian Democrat during his twenties, he was known for his conservative social views, along with his advocacy for a free market. Time saw Varadkar experience a drastic shift away from his opposed takes on same-sex marriage and abortion to a more liberal vantage point.
The significant milestone of opening about his sexuality is expected to be a topic approached in the autobiography. Varadkar publicly shared his identity as a gay man, a fact previously known only within a limited circle, during an interview with Miriam O’Callaghan in early 2015. The wider public only came to knowledge about this aspect of his private life following his public admission to being gay. This announcement was considered as an emblem of Ireland’s progressing culture of acceptance, the consequences of which were felt during the victory of the same-sex marriage referendum. His personal journey navigating his sexuality is expected to be thoroughly addressed in his memoir.
Lastly, his early professional stint with medicine prior to his interests shifting towards political service is likely to be chronicled.
Before fully embarking on his political journey, Varadkar was in the process of finishing his GP training, which he later completed. At which point in time did he identify politics as his destined career? Would he have enjoyed continuing his medical vocation?
From the inception of his ventures in politics, Varadkar has been known as quite the blunt soul. His scathing criticism of then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, in which he labeled him as “manipulative and deceitful”, painted him as a no-nonsense politician. A public lauding of Maurice McCabe, a Garda whistleblower, in 2014 was perceived by several Fine Gael members and media outlets as an implicit censure of his government co-worker, Alan Shatter, then the minister for justice. After Shatter was compelled to step down following criticisms by a report from senior counsel Sean Guerin – a decision he later managed to reverse in the court – their rapport is rumoured to have sharply declined.
Varadkar’s loyalty to Richard Bruton during his unsuccessful coup against Enda Kenny in 2010 provides crucial context to his political journey. Kenny’s immediate decision to return him to the front bench post this event was an important turning point.
Similarly significant was the moment his aspiration to lead Fine Gael took form specifically when he aimed to take over from Enda Kenny in the wake of the 2016 general election. His leadership campaign picked up remarkable momentum to such an extent that within a mere 48 hours of Kenny’s resignation in 2017, Varadkar had secured a decisive lead against any potential contenders.
His term as health minister, however, was a somewhat stumbling experience. In line with numerous high-ranking politicians who have come before him, his tenure in a tough portfolio was less than successful. Perhaps the lowest point of his time was when in an interview with RTÉ, he speculated that the national children’s hospital would be complete by 2020 “unless an asteroid strikes Earth”. Upon his resignation as Taoiseach, the incomplete hospital was rumoured to rack up a cost nearing €2.4 billion.
The manner in which he managed Brexit is another noteworthy aspect of his political legacy.
Varadkar stepped into the role of taoiseach amidst the height of Brexit negotiations. Initially, he engaged in discussions with Theresa May and later in 2019, with Boris Johnson. In October of that year, the pair convened in the Wirral, leading to the replacement of the backstop with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Nevertheless, Johnson went back on his word and the joviality from this assembly faded as the relationship between the Irish Government and the incumbent prime minister, including his predecessors Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, gradually deteriorated.
During his regular March 2020 visit to Washington DC, Varadkar discovered that Covid-19 had begun to significantly impact Ireland, necessitating swift action. From the US capital, he announced the first lockdown through a live address, signalling the start of a two-year period of substantial disruption to everyday life. He is likely to recount this challenging period as a leader in his forthcoming address.
A contentious incident in autumn of the same year saw Varadkar publicly denouncing the then-chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, alongside the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) over some proposed restrictions. He also opined that certain team members had seemingly taken over the Government’s role. He later apologised for these remarks, stating he had acted out of frustration as the Government had not been consulted on changing advice from Nphet and had only learnt of these changes through media briefings.
A GP pay deal leak also raised concerns. Varadkar had decided to share the details of an agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation regarding a new pay deal for general practitioners with Maitiú Ó Tuathail, a peer and leader of a competing medical institution. This led to an ongoing inquiry by SIPO.
The overall condition of the Coalition Government was also a decisive discussion point.
The agreement formed between him and Micheál Martin leading to a Coalition of Ireland’s biggest rival parties since the formation of the State and his evaluation of the future existence of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil as independent bodies is noteworthy. He also shares his views on the unexpected poor performance of his party in the 2020 general vote, being surpassed by Sinn Féin.
He elaborates on his hugely successful and failed undertakings. The national economy demonstrated impressive growth during Varadkar’s term as taoiseach and tánaiste, although there were serious challenges, specifically persistent issues in health services and a periling housing crisis. Even with the Government’s additional resources and measures, homelessness surged to high record under his leadership.
The text also delves into his personal bonds. He discloses his relationship with Matt Barrett, and how it had a transformative effect on his political perspective and prompted him to take a new look at his work-life equilibrium.
Finally, his resolution to resign as Taoiseach aged 45, a year prior to the upcoming election, is discussed. Was this a result of external pressure or solely his own decision? Was it influenced by an impending tough vote, or the choice of several Fine Gael colleagues not to run in the next election? He also shares his future plans, if he aims to stay in public service. He provides his opinion on the direction of Irish politics in the coming decade, considering the increasingly unstable political environment.