Leo Varadkar comes out as gay

SpaceTime · 18-01-2015 1:23pm

stanley1980 wrote: »

Why's that? You prefer the teachers and accountants ? What profession would you prefer to see ?

We could do with a better diversity in politics. The Dail is still full of teachers, farmers, publicans, accountants and the odd lawyer.

At least medical doctors have a slightly different experience of life. We could do with some engineers, scientists, IT people etc etc too!
Very very poor number of science and tech people in Irish politics.

JillyQ · 18-01-2015 1:23pm

conditioned games wrote: »

Hope he goes back to medicine, they dont belong in poltics.

Who's they? & why don't they belong in politics?

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:25pm

SpaceTime wrote: »

We could do with a better diversity in politics. The Dail is still full of teachers, farmers, publicans, accountants and the odd lawyer.

At least medical doctors have a slightly different experience of life. We could do with some engineers, scientists, IT people etc etc too!
Very very poor number of science and tech people in Irish politics.

.....and far too many who inherited their seats.

mad muffin · 18-01-2015 1:25pm

efb wrote: »

And how much would it cost to do that?

10 shekels?

DeanAustin wrote: »

Haha nope afraid it isn't. Just exposing you as a spoofer.

Oh you.

JillyQ · 18-01-2015 1:25pm

conditioned games wrote: »

Hope he goes back to medicine, they dont belong in poltics.

Who's they? & why don't they belong in politics?

dickwod1 · 18-01-2015 1:25pm

kyub wrote: »

Ah right ok... my nose is runny. Sort it out Leo!

All joking aside though, I don't understand why there is he feels this need to come out as gay.

He said: "There are decisions coming up that are not entirely my own but I will be involved in them.

"I just want people to know that whatever decisions are made on any issue, I'll make them according to what I believe is in the public interest and my own conscience.

"I won't be allowing my own background or my own sexual orientation to dictate the decisions that I make.

"I just kind of want to be honest with people. I don't want anyone to think that I have a hidden agenda."

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0118/673524-leo-varadkar/

Annasopra · 18-01-2015 1:29pm

conditioned games wrote: »

Hope he goes back to medicine, they dont belong in poltics.

Apart from the fact we do. Get used to it.

We have 4 openly gay TDs, 2 openly gay senators and 8 openly Councillors.

That number is always increasing.

SpaceTime · 18-01-2015 1:29pm

Jawgap wrote: »

.....and far too many who inherited their seats.

Well, oddly enough that's down to the locals voting for them and having the infrastructure and experience in place.

You can't "inherit' a seat, you can however be totally prepared for political life by having grown up with a TD.

_Kaiser_ · 18-01-2015 1:30pm

Jawgap wrote: »

.....and far too many who inherited their seats.

That's also to do with the sheep-like electorate though.

We need term limits...

- No Party can serve in Government any longer than 2 consecutive terms (4 years each)
- No TD can serve any longer than a maximum of 3 terms

That would get rid of the "jobs for life and all my family" shyte IMO

Micky Dolenz · 18-01-2015 1:30pm

Fair play to him. I've met him a few times over the years, a very likable chap once the work stuff is over. The gay thing I have no issue with, what bothers me is that he is so young and has done so much. That's not fair

mikom · 18-01-2015 1:32pm

conditioned games wrote: »

Hope he goes back to medicine, they dont belong in poltics.

JillyQ wrote: »

Who's they? & why don't they belong in politics?

Honest folk?

conorh91 · 18-01-2015 1:32pm

I'm surprised at all the people saying they knew. I would never have guessed. He looks just like one of us

/ sarcasm

Dyr · 18-01-2015 1:33pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Fair play to him. I've met him a few times over the years, a very likable chap once the work stuff is over. The gay thing I have no issue with, what bothers me is that he is so young and has done so much. That's not fair

He did sweet FA in transport and he's doing sweet FA in health. If Leo was taoiseach he'd spend all his time pontificating about what was happening in america or anywhere other than the country he's running

Micky Dolenz · 18-01-2015 1:35pm

Bambi wrote: »

He did sweet FA in transport and he's doing sweet FA in health. If Leo was taoiseach he'd spend all his time pontificating about what was happening in america or anywhere other than the country he's running

What have you done/or hope to do by the time you are 36?

efb · 18-01-2015 1:36pm

I bought my own house that's it

Daith · 18-01-2015 1:36pm

conorh91 wrote: »

I'm surprised at all the people saying they knew. I would never have guessed. He looks just like one of us

/ sarcasm

You don't get straight guys looking that good and young at 36!

efb · 18-01-2015 1:37pm

Daith wrote: »

You don't get straight guys looking that good and young at 36!

q10

Cienciano · 18-01-2015 1:37pm

I didn't like him before and I don't like him now.

_Kaiser_ · 18-01-2015 1:38pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What have you done/or hope to do by the time you are 36?

To be fair, I can see his point as Leo IS in those positions and should be delivering - regardless of his age, sexuality or anything else.

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:39pm

SpaceTime wrote: »

Well, oddly enough that's down to the locals voting for them and having the infrastructure and experience in place.

You can't "inherit' a seat, you can however be totally prepared for political life by having grown up with a TD.

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

That's also to do with the sheep-like electorate though.

We need term limits...

- No Party can serve in Government any longer than 2 consecutive terms (4 years each)
- No TD can serve a maximum of 3 terms

That would get rid of the "jobs for life and all my family" shyte IMO

No, we need to embrace the Athenian democratic process of ostracism!!

In ancient Athens the people were asked if they wanted to hold an ostracism every year - if the majority agreed, candidates were nominated. The 'winners' were then banished for 10 years after which they could return to their property and lives in the city.

In the real world, though, a term limit for TDs (Any number of Dails up to a max of 12 years) would be a good idea (and no drawing the pension until your 65, no parachute payments and trim back the expenses) - not sure about a term limit on parties. If they can garner the support they should be in government.

jca · 18-01-2015 1:40pm

Jeez. Must be a slow news day.... Who gives a ***k. Match him better to do his job.

mad muffin · 18-01-2015 1:40pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What have you done/or hope to do by the time you are 36?

Let me answer that!

I have given life! Life!!!! LIIIIIIIIFE!!!!

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:44pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What have you done/or hope to do by the time you are 36?

What has age got to do with anything?

Renzi became prime minister of Italy in 2014 at 39 and Rajiv Ghandi was 40 when he took over in India- can we regard Leo as a failure if he's not Taoiseach after the next election?

Alexander the Great was 33 when he died.

_Kaiser_ · 18-01-2015 1:44pm

Jawgap wrote: »

not sure about a term limit on parties. If they can garner the support they should be in government.

The idea there would to be try and prevent one party from dominating (as FF have done since pretty much the foundation of the State).

There's nothing wrong with fresh ideas every few years.. unfortunately this time round we got FF-lite rather than the real reform and change we were promised. Probably also explains why FG never get 2 consecutive terms in government as all they seem to do in Irish politics is screw things up so badly that they make FF viable again! :rolleyes:

I do think the PR electoral system needs to go though too.

Micky Dolenz · 18-01-2015 1:46pm

Being successful at a young age shows ambition, hard work and luck.

Wang King · 18-01-2015 1:46pm

mad muffin wrote: »

Let me answer that!

I have given life! Life!!!! LIIIIIIIIFE!!!!

Nothing useful then?

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:47pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Being successful at a young age shows ambition, hard work and luck.

Mostly luck - as Gladwell showed in Outliers.

Richard Hillman · 18-01-2015 1:47pm

Bambi wrote: »

He did sweet FA in transport and he's doing sweet FA in health. If Leo was taoiseach he'd spend all his time pontificating about what was happening in america or anywhere other than the country he's running

Sweet FA? He was probably the first transport minister to finally stand up to the transport unions.

_Kaiser_ · 18-01-2015 1:48pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Being successful at a young age shows ambition, hard work and luck.

What is being "successful" though .. just getting there, or what you do when you ARE there?

I think the point is that the emphasis should be on the latter - especially in a country like this where TD's can effectively pass their seats on to their offspring

evolving_doors · 18-01-2015 1:48pm

Wonder how Coveny can top that...

I suppose being from Cork is enough of an affliction

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:50pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

The idea there would to be try and prevent one party from dominating (as FF have done since pretty much the foundation of the State).

There's nothing wrong with fresh ideas every few years.. unfortunately this time round we got FF-lite rather than the real reform and change we were promised. Probably also explains why FG never get 2 consecutive terms in government as all they seem to do in Irish politics is screw things up so badly that they make FF viable again! :rolleyes:

I do think the PR electoral system needs to go though too.

Totally agree - FG just proved themselves to be just like FF, only FF were more accomplished at pulling strokes without getting caught.

They had their chance to redeem themselves when the heave took place against Enda, but they fecked that up. I'm holding out some hope for their redemption if Coveney takes over after the next election - he should steer them through the chaos of the subsequent 2 years / 3 elections to follow.

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 1:51pm

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Sweet FA? He was probably the first transport minister to finally stand up to the transport unions.

......and that improved public transport in the country?

LeBash · 18-01-2015 1:51pm

I thought all politicians were bent.......Hey Ohhhhhhhhh.

He or any other person shouldnt have to come out publicly. Hes been voted in for whatever reason his area feel hes done right and he should only need to explain publicly about his professional life.

Dyr · 18-01-2015 1:52pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What have you done/or hope to do by the time you are 36?

I was hoping to have achieved mod status on as many boards forums as possible. Cruelly dashed.

cloudatlas · 18-01-2015 1:54pm

AgileMyth wrote: »

Never understood the notion of coming out.

What business is it of anyone else? Nobody ever comes out as straight.

Eh because there is still a lot of prejudice in this society and the less people speak out the more it grows. You may not care but others do. Anyway if you don't care just change the channel, turn the page and change the subject no need for you to be concerned if you don't understand.

mad muffin · 18-01-2015 1:56pm

Wang King wrote: »

Nothing useful then?

Why you… my progeny will rule the world some day!

_Kaiser_ · 18-01-2015 1:56pm

Jawgap wrote: »

Totally agree - FG just proved themselves to be just like FF, only FF were more accomplished at pulling strokes without getting caught.

They had their chance to redeem themselves when the heave took place against Enda, but they fecked that up. I'm holding out some hope for their redemption if Coveney takes over after the next election - he should steer them through the chaos of the subsequent 2 years / 3 elections to follow.

Well see that's why I wonder about Leo's announcement.. in reality it has no bearing on most people or his job, and I'm sure many of his colleagues and civil servants already know or suspected he was gay, but as we can see on this thread, despite it being a non-story IMO it does build support from "de public"

I think Leo is eyeing the leadership as Enda's performance has been truly abysmal with his own party expressing dissatisfaction over the whip and such, and Labour TDs being told to go out and "differentiate" themselves from FG

I think Enda could be gone before the GE (probably to some cushy number in Europe) which would allow the new leader to contest the election on a semi "clean slate" with the public. Leo being popular and seen as liberal, youthful and "one of the better ones" would only help that idea.

I do think though that the only reason we haven't seen FG be just as bad as FF (if not worse!) though is purely because they don't get as much time at the trough

cloudatlas · 18-01-2015 1:57pm

Saipanne wrote: »

Maybe he has found someone significant, and wishes to be seen openly with him. Perhaps that pushed him to out himself.

But to my knowledge, it was the worst kept secret in Dublin.

I'd say it was the referendum coming up.

jelutong · 18-01-2015 2:03pm

A blueshirtlifter.

Jawgap · 18-01-2015 2:03pm

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Well see that's why I wonder about Leo's announcement.. in reality it has no bearing on most people or his job, and I'm sure many of his colleagues and civil servants already know or suspected he was gay, but as we can see on this thread, despite it being a non-story IMO it does build support from "de public"

I think Leo is eyeing the leadership as Enda's performance has been truly abysmal with his own party expressing dissatisfaction over the whip and such, and Labour TDs being told to go out and "differentiate" themselves from FG

I think Enda could be gone before the GE (probably to some cushy number in Europe) which would allow the new leader to contest the election on a semi "clean slate" with the public. Leo being popular and seen as youthful and "one of the better ones" would only help that idea.

I do think though that the only reason we haven't seen FG be just as bad as FF (if not worse!) though is purely because they don't get as much time at the trough

I would take a different view.

They'll leave Enda in place and let him run the train right off the tracks - then after the GE he'll be retired off to the big job in Europe where he'll get an awful kick in the boll1X when he realises he's not as well thought of as he reckoned he was - that he was, in fact, just a useful idiot for the Germans to get their money back.

Then there'll be the sort out between Coveney and Varadkar and probably some other couple of candidates. I reckon Coveney will get it because he's managed to negotiate his time at Ag and actually do things (although he's been hugely helped by the high prices farmers have been getting for their produce which has kept them fairly quiet).

Leo's strategy seems to be avoiding controversy - do nothing then you can't be accused of getting anything wrong. I don't think he'll win, but if he does and goes on to be Taoiseach he'll be know as the Teflon Taoiseach because no one will be able to find any cock-ups.

Part of me wonders if this announcement (a year or so out from the GE) isn't designed to get the fact he's gay out of the way so by the time the GE rolls around it'll have been placed firmly in the background.

Pyridine · 18-01-2015 2:05pm

Armelodie wrote: »

Wonder how Coveny can top that...

Seriously do we need to have an image of Coveney topping Varadkar? :P

Also, I think Leo had a poor choice of phrase in his interview (about 16:50 on the Irish Times site) when he said something about sliding up the greasy pole!!! :eek:

But in all seriousness, it's the guys own business. More power to him if this makes him feel better about things or if it helps others to come to terms with their own orientation and feel they don't have to hide who they are.

Wouldn't necessarily agree with the guy's politics though!

evolving_doors · 18-01-2015 2:06pm

This thread is outrageous... theres far too much sense being talked here for my liking.

Ahemmm the Politics café is --->

More toilet humour please.

YoungIrelander · 18-01-2015 2:06pm

I'm extremely pleased that Mr. Varadkar feels comfortable and confident enough in himself to be able to admit such a thing. Ireland has come on in leaps and bounds regarding the treatment of homosexuality, but there is still an awful lot of internalised homophobia in the country. I've seen countless people saying that his sexuality shouldn't matter, and that he should just do his job, but I beg to differ. For such a public figure to make such an announcement in a /personal/ interview is a major stepping-stone for the LGBT+ community in Ireland. He runs the risk of turning many of his supporters against him, which is a real risk, there are many narrow-minded people still living in Ireland, yet he still took that risk.

Leo Varadkar is not the worst Health Minister this country's seen, and he is a likable figure, so I have the utmost respect for him.

Annasopra · 18-01-2015 2:06pm

Funny how most of those shouting "Why is this news?" have equal rights, don't face vicious bullying in school etc.

Pumpkinseeds · 18-01-2015 2:08pm

I think the guy is an arsehole, I couldn't give a monkeys what his sexual preferences are, but hey, it'll help the government seem more gay friendly for the upcoming gay marriage referendum, not that I'm cynical about the timing of his 'coming out' or anything:rolleyes:

conorh91 · 18-01-2015 2:09pm

cloudatlas wrote: »

I'd say it was the referendum coming up.

Varadkar said it was the referendum, but only in the sense that he didn't want to be seen to be be hiding something; he said he was seeking honesty. I suspect he also wanted to show the more traditional FG voter that not all gay people fit into a stereotype, as some may tend to believe.

If you put yourself in his position, it would be a semi-grotesque scenario, to be travelling the country making speeches in favour of gay marriage, under the pretext of being straight, whilst some people were presumably chattering about his private life. Better to just bite the bullet now, I suppose.