Leo Varadkar would like to lead FG ‘in future but not now’

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has refused to rule out a possible run for the leadership of his Fine Gael party in the future.

Mr Varadkar's name and those of cabinet colleagues Simon Coveney and Frances Fitzgerald have been linked with the role after Enda Kenny said at the weekend that he would not lead for a full term if returned as taoiseach after the next general election.

If he does not become taoiseach after the next election, Mr Kenny is likely to resign immediately as party rules trigger an immediate vote of confidence in a leader who loses an election.

Mr Varadkar told RTÉ Radio's Keelin Shanley on Monday that he was "totally engrossed in health" and that he would consider leading the party "maybe in the future but certainly not now".

“It’s a tough job. Every day there’s a new challenge, you spend a huge amount of time fire fighting which means that you can’t spend time on the long-term strategic stuff,” he said of his current role.

Bookmakers have made Mr Varadkar the frontrunner to be the next party leader. He would not be drawn on who he saw as the main contenders for the role and said he hoped Mr Kenny would be returned after the general election.

“This is something that may arise in 2021. There are lots of new people coming through who might turn out to be real stars by then. Some of us may fall by the wayside so you can’t work on that basis,” Mr Varadkar added.

“The dustbin of political history is full of future leaders and future taoisigh...”

Mr Kenny on Sunday moved to clarify his long-term intentions following a suggestion by Government chief whip Paul Kehoe that he would lead Fine Gael into the election after next and beyond.

Speaking in Co Mayo, he said his chief whip had used "a lot of poetic licence" in stating last week that he would serve another full term and lead Fine Gael into the election after next.

“It would be very arrogant and presumptuous of any public representative to assume that they can be elected to anything, myself included, until the people vote,” said Mr Kenny.

“I have no intention of staying beyond the remit of the next Government.”

He said it was his intention to win the forthcoming general election and lead another Fine Gael-Labour coalition.