Bertie Ahern, a former prime minister, has praised Leo Varadkar’s leadership, particularly during Brexit and his adherence to the Belfast Agreement. During a conversation with Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1, Ahern expressed his wish for more public appreciation for the Taoiseach following his resignation announcement.
Varadkar’s efforts, Ahern noted, were commendable; He effectively led the campaign around the backstop, the Protocol, and the Windsor Agreement while maintaining his allegiance to the Good Friday Agreement under substantial pressure. Ahern declared this deserves acknowledgment, particularly considering Varadkar’s significant contributions towards preventing a hard border in Northern Ireland, an issue Ahern holds dear.
Despite political struggles and unexpected turns – including getting Boris Johnson’s support then losing it, which Ahern doesn’t blame on Varadkar – he managed to restore the Northern Ireland institution. Ahern believes Varadkar’s dedication and commitment deserve recognition, which he didn’t seem to be getting throughout the week.
Varadkar’s handling of the early Covid crisis and his efforts to address international issues such as Gaza were also praised by the former Fianna Fáil leader. Ahern anticipated that Varadkar would participate in the next election but depart shortly after. He recognised Varadkar’s decade and a half of public service, with the majority spent in office, hinting that Varadkar perhaps no longer felt up to the rigours of the role.
Lastly, Ahern confessed to being caught off-guard by the swift decision to appoint Simon Harris as the new leader.
Reflecting on the impressive speed at which candidates dropped out of the race for Taoiseach, a shocked commentator noted there were a handful of credible contenders initially. However, their withdrawal happened faster than anticipated, signalling an end to the game by the end of the profound Irish radio show ‘Morning Ireland’ the ensuing morning.
Appraising the Taoiseach’s office’s intense atmosphere, the commentator noticed a lack of focus from Varadkar. The commentator proceeded to observe that not many are inclined to accept the task of leading, considering it requires a year-long, 18-hour-a-day commitment. This, coupled with the inherent challenges and voluminous criticism, could likely dissuade many from pursuing such a role. The commentator, who had the privilege to serve in this capacity, inferred that the first-hand exposure to the job demands in the cabinet could have led to many candidates’ reluctance.
In the direction of future leadership, the commentator singled out Minister Harris, describing him as a potential fit for the next Taoiseach. Harris, according to him, displayed remarkable planning, mirroring Leo’s approach with Simon Coveney some years prior. He accented Harris’s communicative skills and acute attention to detail that are imperative for the job, while also acknowledging the absence of his international and northern exposure. However, with Micheál Martin’s continued presence for some time, he felt Harris’ lacks wouldn’t pose an immediate challenge.
The commentator cautioned Harris not to rush, considering he has a decade of service ahead to hone his skills. The commentator also dismissed the notion of Harris being seen as the saviour of Fine Gael’s fortunes in the upcoming June local elections, terming it as an unfair expectation. He further proposed that Harris needed to strengthen his ties with Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin and the Green Party’s Eamon Ryan.
“If there is too heavy a push for the Fine Gael’s agenda against Micheál Martin, then this government is ended. It’s imperative that collaborative work is undertaken with both. He must strive to keep up the momentum initiated by Leo. The unity of the government is crucial. If not maintained, the government faces certain demise. Despite possessing all the attributes needed, care and vigilance are key as even minor missteps can lead to ruin.”
He concluded with his anticipation for the current government to serve the full term, with the General Election projected for the following year.