Leo bows out from frontline
POLITICIANS have a responsibility not to encourage toxicity in public debate, Leo Varadkar has said in his final speech in the Dail yesterday.
Mr Varadkar said it had been a “privilege” to serve as a public representative for 20 years.
He added: “It has been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of my life.
“But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life, and a new phase for this coalition Government.”
Thanking his constituents, staff and party colleagues, he also paid tribute to the other leaders of the coalition parties, Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin and the Green Party’s Eamon Ryan.
Mr Varadkar said: “The trust and respect that we’ve built up together ensure that this Government remains solid and stayed the course and I think will be a model for future coalitions of equals, in this State and elsewhere.”
In his speech, Mr Varadkar said politicians need to
“respect each other a little bit better”.
He said there has been a change in tone in political debate, including a growth and encouragement of anger, as well as “coarseness and even toxicity”.
He added: “We should not twist each other’s words, misquote each other, misrepresent each other or demonise each other. And we should be much slower to question each other’s motives. Above all, we need to learn to disagree better.
“In my constituency, and on many campaigns, I’ve worked with people from political tradition that has perspectives that are opposite of mine.
“With very few exceptions, they are all people who are motivated by a desire to improve their country and communities, which they care about deeply.
“If we want politicians to be more respected, we have to respect each other a little bit better.”
Mr Varadkar also said he is “proud” of his record in office, including welcoming more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began.