A difficult relationship with unionistspublished at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

13:48 GMT 20 March

Gareth Gordon
BBC News NI Political Correspondent

Leo Varadkar once bristled when I suggested to him he was seen as "a unionist bogeyman".

But for most of his tenure that's the way it was.

The source of his fractured relationship with unionists in Northern Ireland was his decision to use a copy of the Irish Times newspaper featuring a front page interview with the daughter of a man killed in an IRA bombing at a customs centre, to warn EU leaders of the danger of a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.

He explained: "I just wanted to make sure that there was no sense in the room that in any way anyone in Ireland or in the Irish government was exaggerating the risk of a return to violence in Northern Ireland."

Democratic Unionist Party MP Sammy Wilson accused him of stirring up "false fears about barriers along the border" adding "his behaviour is despicable low and rotten."

The suspicion was, of course, the party was happy to have a convenient target at which to aim its post-Brexit ire but it came to define his relationship with northern unionists at least.

Read more from Gareth.

We have just been hearing from Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy, who serves as the party's spokesperson on foreign affairs and defence.

He says Leo Varadkar's party - Fine Gael - has been "in government for far too long" and calls for a "new direction, a fresh direction".

"On a personal level of course we wish Leo Varadkar well," says Carthy.

He goes on to say that issues around housing, the health system, and services for disabled people have gotten worse, and the country needs "more than just a change of taoiseach, we need a change of government".

Coming off the back of a referendum defeat on changes to the Irish constitution and a high-profile visit to the White House for St Patrick's Day, it seems to be challenges in the near future which have influenced Mr Varadkar's decision to step down.

This June, Ireland will go to the polls for the European and local elections.

In his resignation speech, the outgoing taoiseach made the admission that he felt his party, Fine Gael, stood a better chance with someone else at its head.

His decision also comes in the context of the forthcoming Irish general election, which must take place by March next year.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the two parties which have been in power since the foundation of the Irish state, will face strong competition from Sinn Féin.

The opposition party - which campaigns for the unification of Northern Ireland and the Republic - won the largest share of the popular vote at the last election, and has held a consistent poll lead in recent years.

Image source, Getty Images

Varadkar suffered a blistering defeat earlier this month when the government's referendums on care and family were defeated by a landslide.

Proposals to alter wording in the constitution to include families which are not based on marriage were defeated with 67.7% voting 'no'.

A second proposed change on the wording around the role of women in the home was defeated by a higher margin with 73.9% of voters rejecting it.

It was the highest ever 'no' vote percentage in an Irish referendum.

He said his government had accepted the result.

"We will respect the result fully, and as the head of government and on behalf of the government we accept responsibility for our failure to convince a majority of people to vote Yes.

"It was our responsibility to convince the majority of people to vote 'Yes' and we clearly failed to do so," he added.

Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar has stepped down,15 months into his second stint in that role as part of a coalition government.

Click the play button above to watch the moment he made that announcement.

Image source, RTÉ

The decision to step down as taoiseach has caught almost everyone by surprise, not least Micheál Martin, who was taoiseach (Irish PM) until 2022, and has since served as tánaiste (deputy PM).

"I was surprised, very surprised. I didn’t expect it at all," he tells reporters.

"It is unprecedented in many ways. In my view we have a clear mandate, we have a clear programme for government."

He says Varadkar asked himself and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan [also part of the Irish coalition government] to stay behind after a meeting of cabinet last night.

He says he has always had a “very good relationship with Leo Varadkar”.

Asked if he felt an election should now take place, Mr Martin says: "My sense is the public want politicians to focus on the day-to-day issues that concern them."

Turning to his 20 years as a public representative, he calls it the “most fulfilling time of my life”.

It has been an honour, he says, to lead the Republic of Ireland "from unemployment to full employment, from a budget deficit to a surplus, from austerity to prosperity”.

The country, he says, has come through a "pandemic in which we saved lives and livelihoods" and Brexit, “ when we prevented a hard border between north and south," he adds.

Addressing the reasons why he has chosen to step down, he observes that "politicians are human beings."

"We have our limitations. We give it everything until we can’t any more and then we have to move on."

"I know, inevitably, there will be speculation as to the ‘real reason’ for my decision," he says.

"That’s it. I have nothing else lined up or in mind. No definite personal or political plans, but I am looking forward to having the time to think about them".

He will remain as a constituency TD for the Dublin West constituency and thanks the Irish people for giving him the opportunity to serve them as leader.

He says that his reasons for stepping down now are "personal and political, but mainly political."

With a reference to the forthcoming elections, he expresses confidence: "I believe my party, Fine Gael, can gain seats in the next Dáil".

"After careful consideration and some soul-searching, I believe a new taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that - to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation," he says.

"After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job," he adds.

Appearing behind the outgoing taoiseach were his Fine Gael colleagues in Cabinet, who occupy many of the most senior jobs in Irish government.

These included chief whip Hildegarde Naughton, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, Education Minister Simon Harris, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, Finance Minister Pascal Donohue, and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Image source, RTÉ

Varadkar says he has asked his party general secretary to make arrangements for the new leader to be elected in advance of the Fine Gael ard fheis (party conference) on 16 April.

This, he says, will allow for a new taoiseach to be elected when the Dail (Irish parliament) resumes after Easter.

"I know this will come as a surprise for many but I hope, at least, you will understand my decision.

"I know that others will cope with the news just fine," he says, adding that this "is the great thing about living in a democracy."

Varadkar says his resignation may come as a “surprise to many people” and a “disappointment for some”.

He says: "There is never a right time to resign high office, however this is as good a time as any".

His successor, he adds, will “have a full two months to prepare for the local and European elections, and up to a year for the next general election”.

Varadkar says he is resigning as leader of Fine Gael effective from today.

He says: “My reasons for stepping down are both personal and political.”

In an emotional address, Varadkar says he does not feel he is not the "best person for the job any more", adding that he will step down as taoiseach as soon as a new leader is elected.

Standing with his cabinet behind him, Varadkar says he is stepping down effective from today.

"I am resigning as president and leader effective from today and will resign as taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office", he says.

He says that one part of leadership is knowing when it is time to "pass on the baton to someone else and having the courage to do so".

"That time is now," he adds.

Leo Varadkar is speaking to the press as he steps down as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader.

He is at government buildings in Dublin.

Click the play button at the top of our page to watch a live stream.

Image source, PA Media

Leo Varadkar has served as taoiseach since December 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2020 - at the age of 38, being the youngest person to hold the position in office.

During the campaign for the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, Varadkar came out as gay becoming the first serving Irish minister to do so.

Varadkar has been the leader of Fine Gael since June 2017, and a Dublin West TD since 2007.

He served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022.

Under Taoiseach Enda Kenny, he served as Minister for social protection from 2016 to 2017.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our live page where we will be bringing you all the latest on the breaking news coming from Dublin that Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar is to stand down as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader.

He is due to make the announcement in a live statement at midday.

Stay with us and we’ll bring you all the latest, including a live stream.