Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar, December 2022 (cropped)

Irish politician and physician

Leo Varadkar (born 18 January 1979) is an Irish politician and physician who has served as Tánaiste since June 2020 and as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment since June 2020. He previously served as Taoiseach from June 2017 to June 2020 and as Minister for Defence from June 2017 to June 2020. Varadkar has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin West constituency since 2007. He is a member of the Fine Gael party.

Early life and education

Varadkar was born in Dublin to an Indian father, Ashok Varadkar, and an Irish mother, Miriam. He was educated at The King's Hospital and later attended Trinity College Dublin, where he studied medicine. He qualified as a general practitioner in 2010.

Political career

Varadkar joined Fine Gael in his youth and was elected to the Fingal County Council in 2004. He was first elected to the Dáil Éireann in 2007 for the Dublin West constituency.

Ministerial roles

Varadkar has held several ministerial positions:

• Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (2011–2014)
• Minister for Health (2014–2016)
• Minister for Social Protection (2016–2017)
• Minister for Defence (2017–2020)
• Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (2020–present)

Taoiseach

Varadkar became the leader of Fine Gael in June 2017, succeeding Enda Kenny. He was appointed Taoiseach on 14 June 2017, becoming the youngest person to hold the office and the first openly gay Taoiseach.

Personal life

Varadkar is openly gay and has been in a relationship with Matthew Barrett, a doctor, since 2015. He came out publicly in 2015 during the Irish same-sex marriage referendum.

Related pages

• Tánaiste
• Taoiseach
• Fine Gael
• Dáil Éireann
• Dublin West (Dáil constituency)
• Trinity College Dublin