Tánaiste Leo Varadkar (FG) has not ruled out stepping down as party leader when he is to become Taoiseach in a bid to damage one of Sinn Féin’s unique selling points.

In the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll published earlier this month, Sinn Féin had support of 32 percent making it the most popular party among voters at present. Fine Gael dropped five percentage points to stand at 22% while Fianna Fáil was unchanged on 20%.

Mary Lou McDonald’s (SF) standing with young voters has been a strong selling point for the party with the Dublin woman in the reckoning to become the country’s first female Taoiseach if Sinn Féin were to enter power.

As part of the coalition deal between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, Varadkar is to become Taoiseach in December 2022 succeeding Micheál Martin (FF).

Responding to a query from The Clare Echo on whether he would consider letting one of his Cabinet colleagues such as Minister for Justice Helen McEntee (FG) or Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys take his place in a bid to weaken support for Sinn Féin, he said, “at the moment I’ll focus on the job that I have which is as Tanáiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment which is all about getting businesses open and getting people to work and back to full employment while improving the terms and conditions of work so that is my focus exclusively for the next year and a bit”.

Varadkar was quick to point out that opinion polls always come with a health warning. Opinion polls have yet to predict the outcome of the last election, Sinn Féin won more votes than any other part in the last election but that never showed up in the opinion polls until only a few weeks beforehand, it’s the people who decide who will win the next election not the opinion polls. To form a Government you need fifty percent, even in the best of polls Sinn Féin is well short of that and the Government parties combined are in or around fifty percent, the last election is a long way away and is far from determined”.

Related News

Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Photograph by Eamon Ward
NPWS Discovery van to serve as mobile visitor centre in The Burren

Advertisement

Latest News
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Premium
1 DSC_9388
'If he wants to stay he will' - seventh season likely for Lohan
ballymacaula 1
Plans lodged for Ennis' largest single-housing development
01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0059
Rita represented West Clare 'with integrity & dignity' during term as Cathaoirleach
Éire Óg v ballyea 07-09-24 1 aaron griffin liam corry 1
Finding new players & promotion was primary focus for Ballyea & Éire Óg
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 tommy kennedy ian o'brien ger o'connell 1
All-Ireland final defeat won't overshadow year for Clare minors

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement