The friends lionised by Leo, until...
MAITIÚ Ó Tuathail should not feel too singled out by the experience of having Leo Varadkar distance himself from him.
The Tánaiste has attracted many friends over a short career in politics. However, not all friendships survive.
The numbers of those who have politically loved Leo and lost includes:
Phil Hogan – The lost kingmaker
Basked in the reputation of being a kingmaker courtesy of the succession of Leo Varadkar. The Tánaiste was somewhat more reticent about his ‘child of Phil’ status. When Phil suffered his time of trouble, Leo and his new friend Micheál weren’t there in support and Mr Hogan and the EU parted with a shotgun divorce.
Eoghan Murphy – The disappeared prince
Designed and secured Varadkar’s victory. Also secured the less than gilded reward of the sink Ministry of Housing while Simon Coveney swanned off to Murph’s, inset, preferred berth of Foreign Affairs.
Despite his best eftorts in Housing, he was axed from the
Cabinet.
John Paul Phelan – In the political lost and found department
Was seen to have also played a key role in securing Leo Varadkar’s succession.
Now resides in the political equivalent of the lost section of the lost and found department.
Michael D’Arcy – The ignored third wheel
Effectively left politics little more than three years after hoisting the new leader up on his shoulders.
Although not a victim of an any political movements by Leo, the cautious Varadkar did not exactly offer D’Arcy the plum ministry he deserved.
Simon Harris – The Tánaiste’s new VBF
Played a key role with Varadkar in leading the initial successful national response to Covid-19. His status as the Tánaiste’s new VBF did not last beyond the new government’s formation, however. An equivocal relationship with Varadkar meant that despite this achievement he scraped into Cabinet in the half Department of Higher Education.
Frances Fitzgerald – The Tánaiste’s fire blanket
Was seen as Leo’s right-hand woman and chief fire blanket. But when the exigencies of confidence and supply with Fianna Fáil required it, Frances found herself being dropped overboard.
There was some initial handwringing by Leo about his having to make the decision, and Frances eventually landed in the European Parliament.