Dublin voters are surprised to see former taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrive on their doorsteps.
As he races to join a local candidate at the threshold of an inner city home, the householder exclaims: “Oh!”
It is an understandable reaction to the ex-taoiseach who shocked the nation with his decision to step down as leader of Fine Gael and head of the coalition Government.
The residents of Palatine Square in Dublin’s Arbour Hill could be forgiven, then, for not expecting to see him on the campaign trail for the local and European elections this Friday.
But, after shaking off a large share of his responsibilities by stepping down earlier this year, Mr Varadkar says he is enjoying helping party candidates in the campaign.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he says: “I’ve always been a candidate or party leader, so it’s a different space now.
“I’m kind of enjoying it more: Still skin in the game – but not my entire skin and organs!”
Mr Varadkar, who stops to pick up litter and upturn a fallen wheelie bin in the red-brick, leafy, privately-managed estate, says he foresees himself being involved in campaigns into the future.
He said: “There’s lots of causes I’m interested in. I never see myself not being involved in politics in some way.
“I don’t necessarily have to be the candidate or the general – I’m a good soldier.”
Following his departure, Simon Harris has stepped up to become the new leader of the party and the country’s Taoiseach.
Support for Fine Gael has surged since Mr Harris’ ascension and Mr Varadkar is confident in the party’s position coming into the elections.
“I think Simon – the Taoiseach – has genuinely brought new energy to the campaign and he has enormous strengths.
“Like, I remember when I became leader back in 2017, the party got a boost in the polls and I was full of new ideas and energy too.
“So, you know, I understand that there’s cycles in these things and part of the reason why I decided to step down as leader is I thought the party needed a reset – so, hopefully, we’ll see that on election day in terms of the results.”
His April departure left early opportunities for Mr Harris to cement his own position as a statesman.
The new leader quickly offered a State apology to the campaigners for the victims of the Stardust fire and he was also propelled to the international stage with the high-profile recognition of Palestinian statehood, following groundwork laid by his predecessor and others.
Asked if this was a conscious decision, Mr Varadkar said: “I knew those big events were coming down the line – or in the forward planning calendar, if you like.
“But there’s always going to be something like that. And, you know, I’ve seen other politicians and other people who have held senior positions always hanging on because of the next big thing. There’s always going to be a next big thing. So, that was something I was aware of.
“In terms of stuff that I did definitely want to be present for was making sure that the institutions in the North were back up and running, and the referendum as well.
“So, it’s always going to be a thing in a few weeks’ time – and you’d stay on forever on that basis.”
On Tuesday evening, though, Mr Varadkar’s focus is on supporting three of the party’s candidates across Dublin – including Ray McAdam in the North Inner City.
Huge thanks to @LeoVaradkar for joining myself and #TeamMcAdam this afternoon in #Stoneybatter. Great response from everyone we met. #McAdam1 #NorthInnerCity pic.twitter.com/Wjzw2FSlVr
— Cllr. Ray McAdam (@RayMcAdam) June 4, 2024
For Mr McAdam’s part, he is met warmly on the doors of the square, with many constituents immediately acknowledging him on a first-name basis.
This is a “final push” for the councillor, having already carried out a leaflet drop in the area and regularly running a “Stoneybatter Matters” newsletter throughout his current term.
He says: “It’s been very different. I first ran in ’09 and I’ve really found this to be very much a local campaign, on local issues.
“You need to be out on the doors, you need to be engaging people and communicating back. That’s what I always try to do.”
In a rehearsed pitch, Mr McAdam stresses his experience as he discusses the redevelopment of the nearby O’Devaney Gardens and the Stoneybatter greening strategy.
Mr Varadkar is at his side as he fields queries on dog poo, blatant drug use and street litter.
The Fine Gael duo also urge the householders to back Regina Doherty to become one of Dublin’s next MEPs.
It is not all smiles, though, as a physical manifestation of the housing crisis answers a door.
A young man, who says he has had to move back in with his parents due to unaffordable rents, takes umbrage with the delivery of housing over successive Fine Gael governments.
Despite assurances about increasing supply, cost-rental schemes and social housing developments, the voter remains unconvinced by “Thatcherite, neoliberal” policies.
Speaking after the 10-minute exchange, the young man feels the former taoiseach was quick to write off his concerns and dismiss him as an ideological socialist.
Mr Varadkar, who told the voter that first-time buyer rates have not been as high since he himself bought his home approximately 20 years ago, acknowledged it would take more time to fix the rental market.
Another young man said he was happy to “hear them out” but remained sceptical of Fine Gael as he felt he had “not seen enough meaningful change”.
He said he would be much more inclined to vote for the Social Democrats, who had knocked at the door minutes earlier.
Things seem to improve, briefly, for the Fine Gael canvassing team as a woman with an eight-month-old baby pops out of her home for a picture with Mr Varadkar.
However, as he moves on, Mr McAdam is left to deal with her concerns about access to childcare services in the area.
It is a frequent complaint – raised again on the very next doorstep.
Speaking after her conversation with the politicians, one mother said she appreciated their “personal touch” but wanted to see more action on her main concern, which she said was stretched services in the area.
Mr McAdam, the father of a young child himself, points to his proposals that childcare facilities be included in all apartment developments and that any new national schools should have a shared pre-school campus.
Following a cordial interaction with the Social Democrat campaigners also canvassing the same area, Mr Varadkar stops to film an endorsement video for Mr McAdam.
The councillor considers himself “lucky” to have the support of a high-profile party figure.
He said: “I’m honoured and privileged, to be honest. It is great to have someone of his stature out on the doors with me.”
The men part ways as Mr Varadkar heads off to lend his support to a candidate in a different part of the city.
He says: “A lot of people that are running in the election would have campaigned for me and are going to be part of the future of the party.
“I stepped down as leader, I didn’t step down from politics.
“It’s nice to have a bit more time to be out on the doors, quite frankly.”
