Congratulations to Leo Varadkar

[myoriginal3]

It is inspiring to see Ireland has definitively been freed from the shackles of the Catholic church and its prejudice.

Not even a FG supporter, but delighted to see our future leader is both the son of an immigrant and a gay man.

[myoriginal3]

This shows the true Irish spirit. The land of a thousand welcomes.

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I hope he does well. I don't think he's a natural politician but he seems very quick on the uptake so, as long as he has good advisers, he should be ok.

[seething1234]

More of the same methinks. I sound so pessimistic but think we are all fooling ourselves if we expect any real change.

[myoriginal3]

I first warmed to him when he was on the Late Late and he was being grilled about the trolley crisis and he said that it's the first thing he checks every morning. His Dad and a brother I think are both doctors so it's not as if he's immune to the situation.

I like him and I think he'll be strong.

[TizzyDongue]

He does seem more modern and forward thinking but I really wouldn't get too carried away the whole land of a thousand welcomes and true Irish spirt.

Why do you think this "definitively been freed from the shackles of the Catholic church and its prejudice". Is it because he's openly gay? I'm sadly too pessimistic about politicians to think that means anything.

[TizzyDongue]

• do you think this means "Ireland has definitively been freed from the shackles of the Catholic church and its prejudice."

[myoriginal3]

Twenty years ago Tizzy, would he have even been allowed in the Dail?

[seething1234]

Well he's a doctor too didn't help him sort out the state of the HSE

[seething1234]

Well he's a doctor too didn't help him sort out the state of the HSE

[MelanieCheeks]

It sends a great message to the rest of the world.

[myoriginal3]

Can you imagine the state of it if they put an accountant in charge?

[cuirderussie]

He's a pro-lifer with zero interest in women's rights.

[TizzyDongue]

Being openly gay wasn't allowed 20 years ago no.

But I really wouldn't get too carried away with the this one fact meaning Ireland has suddenly become a progressive country.

If he sorts everything - like schools and 8th amendment then I'll start believing the shackles have been shed

I'll let you be hopeful though, I'm generous like that

[Setsailwithallmylove]

I like him. Though I don't think it. should matter so much that he is an immigrant and is gay.

He is articulate and a hard worker - I wish him the very best. It will be a tough job being Taoiseach when the eight amendment is being debated and a referendum on same issue.

[macnab]

He's very conservative, and as a previous poster has said, he's pro-life and really not an advocate of women's interests. We'll just have to wait and see I guess. But I wouldn't be surprised if we have another GE in near future.

[Galla]

Hes not prolife cuirde. He's said the amendment is too restrictive and he is "evolving" his opinion. I appreciate that he's open to opinion and persuasion,unlike many closed minded politicians.

I'm delighted he's got the role. He seems to have courage, speaks his mind (which does get t him in trouble) and has admitted he has unresolved work in the gigantic monster that is the health system.
I do believe he is the best person for the job and although he hasn't shown his hand in international relations yet, I'm confident he will represent the country and stand up for us in Brexit/EU.

[cuirderussie]

He advocates abortion only where the woman's health is at serious risk, and believes "the right to life" should be in the Constitution although the Eighth is too restrictive. These views are far more conservative than those of British legislators 50 years ago and are coming from a young, educated middle class man. I'm not prepared to sit around for my daughter's generation to wait for Leo's views to "evolve" on something that will never affect him, he can fuck right off with that.

[Galla]

I bet he will change his tune on that.
There's no FGers with openly proclaimed opinions as they are afraid of losing support. (except maybe Kate oConnell, who's been vague at best!) The idea that it's political suicide to support prochoice views in Ireland needs to change before it will receive the support of the main players of fg/ff.
But Vradkar, out of all of them, would be most likely to lead change on that. Watch this space.
Coveney is extremely traditional. Martin a complete myoginist with a staunchly Catholic and personal influence.

[Galla]

Not proclaimed, prolife I mean.

[TheVeryThing]

I think he's a Tory boy, he doesn't give a flying fuck about the disadvantaged in our society.
He didn't even try to sort out the healthcare mess, just picked a few 'easy wins' and avoided getting his hands dirty. great strategy for his career but no help to people reliant on the health service.
As has been pointed out, he also has a pretty conservative position on abortion.

[TizzyDongue]

I do like how the Waterford Whispers says it like it is:

waterfordwhispersnews.com/2017/06/02/leo-varadkar-becomes-irelands-first-openly-classist-leader/?utm_source=WWN_Facebook_Page&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=Social_Link&utm_content=Article

[honeyrider]

Simon Coveney is a lot more conservative than Leo Varadkar.

[Brogad0ccio]

I'm not so moved by this. I also would have preferred to have seen SC. LV scarily right wing even by FG standards. He is encouraging people to ''hate the poor'' which is lovely from a man who wants us to believe that his success proves there's no prejudice in Ireland.

He only came out two years ago, Dominic Hannigan was openly gay long before Leo.

[squoosh]

I'm finding it very hard to get excited about Varadkar, no matter how much the foreign press coo about how progressive Ireland is with its gay mixed race PM.

Ooooh get us, we're so liberal. Yeah right.

Total Tory boy who doesn't give a fuck about the poor or those with wombs.

Nope. Nothing to cheer about.