Leo Varadkar to step down as Taoiseach and FG leader

Michael Malone, 20 Mar

Leo Varadkar has announced that he is stepping down as Taoiseach and Fine

Gael leader in a press conference earlier today.

Varadkar has served as Taoiseach since December 2022, and previously from

2017 to 2020.

Government parties have dismissed any suggestion that the announcement

will lead to a general election.

Sinn Féin and some Independents have said that the people should decide

who the next Taoiseach is by means of a general election, and not members

of the Fine Gael parliamentary party.