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LEO VARADKAR’S SEXUALITY has never been a secret to many of those working in the Leinster House bubble.
Lots of people knew, although there were plenty who didn’t. One Fine Gael TD was was visibly surprised to learn about it when told late last year.
For those that did know, the widely-held view was that it was no one’s business except his own. But at the same time there was a feeling that if Varadkar wanted to be leader of Fine Gael and potentially Taoiseach he would have to deal with the matter publicly at some point.
Such a situation is hardly ideal, nor should it arise in a properly functioning and equal society.
But then this is Ireland, a country where homosexual acts were criminal less than 25 years ago and where there is a constitutional ban on abortion of any kind, even in the most heartbreaking and tragic cases. Socially, we’re not as liberal a society as some of us like to think, nor have we made the kind of progress that some believe we have.
So the announcement of the country’s first openly gay cabinet minister was always going to be a thing.
An RTÉ radio interview was always envisioned, the only surprise yesterday was that it was Miriam O’Callaghan and not Marian Finucane, but it’s reported this morning that O’Callaghan had been chasing a more personal interview with Varadkar for sometime.
A person’s private life is exactly that. The chances are there are are more than the now four openly gay TDs working in Leinster House. Will we find out about them? Maybe. Does it matter if we don’t? Absolutely not.
Those who have spoken publicly about their sexuality have done so for a variety of reasons. But as Labour TD John Lyons told TheJournal.ie in an interview last month: “I would like to see a day when I don’t have to talk about those type of things at all.”
That day edged a little closer yesterday with Varadkar’s searingly honest and forthright interview with Miriam O’Callaghan yesterday.
“It’s not something that defines me, I’m not a half-Indian politician or a doctor politician, I’m not a gay politician for that matter, it’s just part of who I am,” he said.
But the fact is that Varadkar will always be known as the first openly gay cabinet minister in Ireland. He could yet become the first gay Taoiseach. It will not define him, nor should it, but it will always be noted.
This is because Ireland is a country still grappling with the enormous social change of the past 25 years. Later this year a debate and referendum on the question of legalising same-sex marriage will take place.
People on both sides are fearing what could be a brutal and divisive campaign that will bring out extremes on both sides. Though opinion polls show huge support for the referendum’s passage many believe it will be a lot closer in the end.
The Yes side believe that Varadkar’s decision to go public about his sexuality will boost the campaign but if they want to win it should not be about personalities but evidence-based arguments. There is a degree of complacency on the Yes side that needs to be tackled now if they want the referendum to pass.
As for Varadkar, what happened yesterday was fundamentally a good thing for the country, a seminal moment in Irish public life.
But hopefully it will be the last time a minister has to do such an interview.
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I’m on social welfare at the moment with a wife and two kids and when I get paid and all the bills and food shopping is done we have €20 left for the week and before all the haters come out because “IM NOT WORKING AND CLAIMING BENIFITS” which is of a genuine reason! let me tell you it’s extremely hard don’t know what we are supposed to do and that €20 we have spare is a top up for food for the week milk,bread etc.Its very hard going right now to get by.
@i.Have.it.Me.: and when the fuel allowance is stopped we are going to be down €33 so we will have to lessen something by €13 but to be fair we won’t starve as we have a roof over our heads and food,will just have no disposable income,could be alot worse off
@i.Have.it.Me.: I think the purpose of social welfare is to get you by, don’t know what else you’re looking for
@Genera L Consensus: hater number one………….
@Genera L Consensus: I have paid my prsi for years and years just hoped I could have been looked after Abit better bet hey
@i.Have.it.Me.: it’s not hate Buddy and you know that too
@Genera L Consensus: except it’s not. What are ye not seeing.?serious question.
@Genera L Consensus: We live in one of the richest countries in the world. We have billionaires, millioners, we have thousands earning over 100.000 yearly. Why the rise in prices due to the Ukrainian war etc can not be absorbed by the privilege before it hits the people who get by with a welfare payment or live in work poverty?
We all live in this society, the privileged are well sheltered, but the rest of us will be left to deal with growing insecurity, crime and general unrest.
@Genera L Consensus: You do know that pensioners, people with disabilities, and carers are some of those on social welfare. If you think the purpose of social welfare is to “just get by”, you don’t understand its purpose. People pay into it for years with the understanding that should they need it, that it is a safety net so they can continue to live as a part of society(that’s the social bit), not just exist. Barely existing is not getting by.
@i.Have.it.Me.: We all have a group that we feel are malinged. Mine are the working who pay rent, are trying to do the right thing but are sunk under the weight of rent, never having their own roof over their head. I admire their resilience..Hopefully we will get a government that will support this group.
@Carol Oates: yes I do know, OP never explained his situation of why he is on social welfare. And there is a sense of entitlement out there. He has 2 kids, roof over their head and food on the table. I failed to understand what more should he be getting? Holiday to Portugal?
@Genera L Consensus: It is actually none of yours, mine, or anyone else’s why he is on social welfare. A life is what he deserves, not just an existence. I cannot stress enough how the current situation for both people working and people out of work is destroying peoples health because people are existing to pay bills, not living. A sense of not being a burden on society is the very basic of what every human deserves. He didn’t ask for a holiday to Portugal. Only enough to have some semblance of a life in this country which always seems to have plenty for elites and overseas but pittance for those in need here.
@Genera L Consensus: that easy, eh? Food, shelter and anything above that goes to holidays in Portugal.
What about transport to school, doctor appointments, etc. Or after school activities. School fees for trips, etc. What about clothes, shoes, jumpers, trousers, school bags/material, etc. What about unexpected expenses, new washing machine, fridge, cooker, etc if old one stop working. And the normal tears and wear of a house? Paint the walls, change the carpet, replace a mattress, etc. A simple broken blender, toaster or kettle is a struggle to replace for someone with €20 left a week, and cheap stuff are cheap for a reason.
And then he has two children, not two dogs, they need a bit more than food, shelter and a few walks around the park. We can’t complain about antisocial behaviour in youths if we are ok with the thought of children growing up in our society with just food and shelter.
This is really tough reading but it’s no surprise to me. The number of people who went straight on to the PUP and had to seek mortgage forbearance in the early stages of the pandemic raised a red flag as to the true state of the economy.
On one side, we have a cohort of very well paid people working in jobs with very good benefits but for every one of them we have two others working on low wage with no benefits at all and not enough savings to tide them over even for the short term.
What we desperately need is government policy to try and equalise the situation and that doesn’t just mean supports and tax breaks for workers, it also means measures to force greedy SME employers (and there are lots of them here) to pay people better, provide sick pay and treat employees fairly.
I really struggle to understand, given our backdrop, why so many people here are complaining about the proposed enhanced sick pay and auto enrolled pensions thta are being brought in – these are measures that will actually help alleviate poverty issues.
In the interim, price increases on energy supplies should be halted – it’s immoral that corporations should be given the go ahead to raise prices and push people into poverty in order to protect profit margins.
Here’s an idea, if you’re an energy company seeking an approval for price increases, you should only be granted it if you agree to build social housing from your vast annual profits.
@Lee King Buckett: well said. Collective bargaining, private sector unionisation, sick pay, social welfare as a proportion of last salary, etc. These are all things we perform worse on compared to our European counterparts. In some we’re slowly catching up, but more is needed.
I am just unable too continue on I am a diabetic with lots of GP visits but has stopped because I can not afford the charge of 80 euros since I had to give up my job as I was unable to continue due to being tired all the time
@Stasia Morley: Very sorry you’re in this situation, apply now for a medical card , hope things get better for you x.
@Stasia Morley: medical card ?
@Stasia Morley: my son is ty1 diabetic he was diagnosed at age 6 he’s now 21 and all his medical needs have been covered for free and he will always be covered,may I ask how you aren’t?
@Caitríona O’Neill Ashe: Does he still have a Medical Card, my son’s was taken off him at 16.
@Pat Barry: yes he does Pat.
My sympathies to all who are struggling. One commenter respectfully said to another ‘Hang on there buddy’, but I would ask ‘hang on to what?’ What is being provided to allow people work, commute and live reasonably without unreasonable worry, pain and interminable struggle?. I’m not suggesting free money, but moreso a landscape which allows people perform in the expectation of a fair result in the capacity they can. This is any governments responsibility. Where is this landscape?
At some stage this will come knocking on banks doors with people not been able to pay their mortgages which in turn I think another bank crisis again. Its extremely hard out there for people at the moment, fuel, heating, food costs. This is not going to end anytime soon.
As long as the government refuse to regulate, energy companies will keep adding huge bill increases. Prices are going up globally, but the fact that energy companies are raising the standing charges too proves that they 100% are taking advantage of the situation to gouge more money. Greed had this country ruined, along with a government that enables the greedy to fleece the public.
Anyway the whole world is bulls,,,t right now so take it as you want
@i.Have.it.Me.: Hang on in there buddy been there bought the t shirt. Don’t let any negative comments on here bring ye down. Best of luck wishing you all the best.
@i.Have.it.Me.: there is always a commentator or ten who will jump straight to the sponging train of thought. For whatever your personal reasons are for being on government financial aid, I’m sure they are both relative and necessary. Sorry to hear that you are struggling so bad. I’ve been in this situation and worse, and I still fluctuate between just about putting my head above water and going under. MABS is a good start with providing information how to make things easier (if even possible) but you may already have looked into that. I wish you all the best.
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