Tomás Ó Flatharta

‘Political Earthquake’ News at 12?

The Irish Independent reports :

And he is Gone!! Leo Varadkar to step down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader

And he is Gone!!

Leo Varadkar to step down as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leaderhttps://t.co/zYx6UVm054

— Mick Caul (@caulmick) March 20, 2024

The Irish Times reports :

He will stay as Taoiseach until a new leader is chosen by the party, which it is hoped will be completed by the party’s ard fheis in early April.
The Dáil will then, it is planned, elect the new Fine Gael leader as taosieach.
However, the departure of Mr Varadkar will be hugely destabilisng event for the Coalition, and is likely to lead to calls for an early general election.
Mr Varadkar will make an announcement in a press conference at 12pm outside Government Buildings,
Mr Varadkar is understood to have informed senior Fine Gael colleagues on Tuesday and the leaders of the Coalition parties, Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan, on Tuesday evening.
The Government will remain in place, and will remain constitutionally unaffected, until Mr Varadkar resigns as Taoiseach. At that point all ministers are deemed to have resigned, and a new Taoiseach and Government must be elected by the Dáil.

Irish Times online, March 20 2024

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Some reactions :

Paul Murphy TD (People Before Profit) retweeted this comment :

Potential reasons for #Leos shock departure. 1. Yet unknown pending scandal 2. Paul Murphys challenge to the #SIPO case 3. Israel had dirt on him and threatened to release it for speaking out on Gaza in the #Whitehouse 4. He’s genuinely just feels he has no more (unlikely) #FG

https://x.com/Seadhnalogan/status/1770432709032071412?s=20

Holly Cairns TD (Social Democrats leader) stated :

The writing is on the wall for this government, even the Taoiseach can see that. They’re failing on so many fronts. In housing, health, climate – the list goes on and on and on. A new Fine Gael Taoiseach isn’t going to fix that. We need a new government. We need an election.

https://x.com/HollyCairnsTD/status/1770434535349448710?s=20

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#WeWantAnElection

We need a real change in Ireland, the kind that can only be brought about by an General Election, we need to give people a say in who the next person to lead this country will be –@HollyCairnsTD #LQs #Dail #LeoOut pic.twitter.com/frfxlE4Ia9

— Mick Caul (@caulmick) March 20, 2024

Meanwhile, the Irish President Michael D Higgins makes a good declaration about Israeli genocide in Gaza which the Irish government should endorse :

Statement by President Higgins on access to aid to Gaza

Date: Tue 19th Mar, 2024 | 17:35

“With a significant proportion of the population of Gaza facing famine at its most extreme level according to the latest IPC classification, it is important that the circumstances of those suffering are not reduced to any rhetorical battle as to whether or not the aid that has been made available is being blocked or delayed from those whose very life in so many cases depends on it.

It would be beyond immoral if the world sought to satisfy itself by the simple taking of sides in what are assertions and counter-assertions. It is in the interests of the most basic humanity and in the interest of all in the international community that the full facts are established, responded to, and that all of the aid is made urgently available.

In order to achieve this basic fact-finding, it would surely be of immense value for an international group to be allowed access to all of the points at which aid is located and to report their findings to all sides, including all of those anxious to be involved in feeding the people of Gaza, including through the UN, and that appropriate actions follow.

Such action would have the obvious benefit of being in keeping with the findings of the International Court of Justice and its instruction that civilians must be protected.

The establishment of what are the facts as to the availability of the necessities of life itself should be not only welcomed by all, but insisted upon by all of the international community, its actors and agencies. Failure to do so should not be rewarded with the immunity of silence.”

https://president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-by-president-higgins-on-access-to-aid-to-gaza190324

Mr Varadkar, knowing that a Presidential election in Ireland is due in 2025 at the latest, may be interested in taking over at Áras an Úachtaráin in the Phoenix Park. A horrible prospect!