Politics

‘I’ve learned a lot from Micheál Martin about what I could do better next time round’ – Leo Varadkar

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar wants to ‘hit the ground running’ when he steps in the role of Taoiseach for the second time on December 15

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment: ready to move to his new office when he swaps roles with Micheál Martin to become Taoiseach in December. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has been studying the work of Taoiseach Michéal Martin as he prepares to take on the role himself in just over six weeks’ time.

The last time he was in the country’s most powerful office, he was 38 years old and the youngest person to take on the job. Fine Gael were riding high in the polls, and Varadkar thought that he could potentially have an “unbroken term of maybe five or ...