Varadkar takes up Harvard role

Former Taoiseach and Castleknock man Leo Varadkar has accepted a role at Harvard.

Varadkar, who stepped down as Taoiseach last March, kept coy about his post-Taoiseach plans and did not seek re-election to the Dáil last November.

The former Taoiseach’s new job is Hauser Leader, and will deliver a series of guest lectures and mentor students at the prestigious American university.

Eight of 45 presidents who have held office in the United States are Harvard graduates, with John F Kennedy, Barack Obama and George W. Bush among those who graduated from the Massachusetts university.

Varadakar’s new role is part of the broader Kennedy School at Harvard, which focuses on public leadership, healthcare policy and international diplomacy.

“We are honoured to welcome Leo Varadkar to the Center for Public Leadership,” said Anthony Foxx, CPL Director and Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership.

“At a time of deep public leadership challenges around the world, his experience working across difficult divides to advance progress and deliver for the public good offers lessons for us all.”

“I am truly honoured to accept the position of Hauser Leader at the Kennedy School, and I am looking forward to spending time at Harvard this spring,” said Varadkar, adding “it’s going to be a great opportunity for me to learn as well as to mentor the next generation of public leaders.”

“More so than ever, our world turns on knowledge, information and ideas. This is a really exciting opportunity and after more than twenty years in elected politics, it’s going to be great to do something really different for a while,” he said.

The Harvard biography of Varadkar cited his experience of “leading Ireland through Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

“Throughout his career in public service, Varadkar has promoted Ireland’s contributions to global prosperity and he has remained dedicated to advancing gender equality, public health, workers’ rights, public infrastructure, arts and culture” it read.

Varadkar joins former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda  Ardern in taking up a role at the Hauser School.

Closer to home, Varadkar’s successor in his old seat of Dublin West, Emer Currie, was named as the assistant government whip as part of the new government line-up.l

Currie, who was Varadkar’s running mate in the 2020 general election, was elected in her own right in November’s general election with Fine Gael holding onto the seat.

Speaking after her appointment, Currie said “I’m delighted to play a key role in the functioning of government, making sure legislation passes efficiently – I’m really looking forward to working with all my colleagues.”