Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed today is his final Cabinet meeting, saying he has taken part in 650 “at a rough count” over the past decade.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at Government Buildings this morning, he said titles are “transient” and that he will refer to himself as “Leo” when asked what his title is now.
He said his successor Simon Harris has “a tough job” deciding who will stay in any Cabinet reshuffle, adding that it is impossible to keep everyone happy.
The now former Fine Gael leader said Cabinet reshuffles are “one of the most difficult” tasks within Government.
However, he added that while some TDs and ministers may be unhappy with any reshuffle, “as the last couple of weeks have shown, opportunities arise very quickly in politics”.
The outgoing Taoiseach separately reiterated there was no scandal which convinced him to step down, saying he has already explained his reason for going and that while “people struggle to make sense of politicians telling the truth” he is being truthful.
“There has never been a time in any party … where no one is complaining about you,” Mr Varadkar said.
He also defended the hate crime bill, and said Sinn Féin has shown “cowardice” by saying it now opposes the plan after “online campaigns” criticised it.
