Taoiseach Leo Varadkar greeting members of the public outside Leinster House today. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Ray O’Hanlon
Leo Varadkar is Ireland's new taoiseach.
His path to the republic’s top government job was cleared today in a Dáil vote in which he secured 57 votes to 50. There were 47 abstentions.
Varadkar’s elevation occurred a day after Enda Kenny tended his resignation to President Michael D. Higgins.
Mr. Varadkar, 38, will serve as Ireland’s 14th taoiseach.
"The country as we know it would not be here today if it was not for Enda Kenny," Varadkar said following the vote.
As it happened, it was ten years to the day that Varadkar, a Dubliner with a father from India and mother from Waterford, first took his seat in the Dáil.
"For some politics is a bad word, but we've seen in some countries, and this one, that it can be a way to convince people that change is possible," Varadkar said.
"Today was a demonstration of democracy in action. Something we sometimes take for granted.
"I hope through our acts and the progress we achieve, we can earn the trust of the people.
"If we want to inspire somebody to believe in your vision you have to appeal to their heart as well as their head.
"The government I lead will not be of the left or the right. It will be of the new European center, a republic of opportunities."
After the vote Mr. Varadkar - who breaks new ground in a number of areas being the son of an immigrant from India, being gay, and being the youngest ever taoiseach - retraced Mr. Kenny’s journey to Áras an Uachtaráin only this time he was to receive his seal of office from President Higgins.
After returning to Leinster House Mr. Varadkar began meeting with ministers and reshuffling what is now his cabinet.
The Irish Independent reported that Minister Simon Coveney, who was Mr. Varadkar’s rival for the Fine Gael leadership, would be appointed the new Minister for Foreign Affairs with incumbent minister, Charlie Flanagan, moving to the Department of Justice.
