Leo Varadkar officially resigns as taoiseach

Leo Varadkar has said he has "no regrets" about standing down as he officially resigned as taoiseach (Irish prime minister).

He met with President Michael D Higgins in Dublin and tendered his resignation on Monday evening.

The president's wife, Sabina Higgins, was also in attendance at Áras an Uachtaráin.

In March, the former Fine Gael leader made the shock announcement that he would stand down as the head of government.

He said he felt he was no longer the right person for the job and cited "personal and political" reasons for the decision.

After spending four years as taoiseach, Mr Varadkar said he was now looking forward to a "different chapter".

Mr Varadkar became Ireland's youngest taoiseach at the age of 38 in 2017.

He had led the three-party coalition government in Dublin, along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Leo Varadkar tendered his resignation to Irish President Michael D Higgins

Earlier on Monday, he visited Northern Ireland for a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council as his final engagement.

New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, whose leadership bid was uncontested, is set to be voted in as taoiseach by TDs (members of parliament) on Tuesday, while every Irish opposition party has called for a general election.

Mr Harris is expected to reshuffle the Fine Gael side of the cabinet later on Tuesday.

He will then travel to meet President Higgins where he will be formally installed.

'Almost impossible to prepare for'

In an interview with Irish State broadcaster RTE before his official resignation, Mr Varadkar said that becoming taoiseach is "almost impossible to prepare for".

"You pretty much become a different person the day you become taoiseach and the hopes and fears of 5.3 million people are on your shoulders.

"So what I've said to minister Harris, to Simon, is to be himself, to trust himself.

"Take advice, absolutely, take advice very widely, but trust your gut instincts and your own intuition," he added.