Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar (born 18 January 1979) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin West constituency since June 2007. He is currently the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, being appointed on 9 March 2011.

Varadkar was born in Dublin, the son of an Indian father (a retired GP in Blanchardstown) and an Irish mother. He was educated at King's Hospital School, Palmerstown and Trinity College, Dublin where he qualified as a medical doctor, and was a member of the Young Fine Gael branch, as was fellow 2007 entrant to Dáil Éireann, Lucinda Creighton.

He was co-opted to Fingal County Council in 2003 to replace Sheila Terry. At the 2004 local elections, he was elected to the council to represent the Castleknock local electoral area, polling the highest first preference vote in the country. He is a former vice-president of the Youth of the European People's Party and an alumnus of the Washington Ireland Program. He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election. He was party spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2007–2010.

Varadkar was accused of being a racist for suggesting to offer a payment to unemployed immigrants in return for leaving Ireland and returning to their home country. He denied that he was...
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