Leo Varadkar is a TD for Dublin West and Fine Gael Spokesperson on Communications and Energy. He was elected to the 30th Dáil on May 24, 2007 and was initially appointed to the Fine Gael Front Bench as Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In June 2010, he was appointed to the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources portfolio.  He took the second seat in the three-seat Dublin West constituency gaining a seat for Fine Gael at the expense of the Socialist Party. It was the first time he contested a General Election.  Fine Gael’s vote in the Dublin West constituency increased by 8% to 20%, the party’s highest share of the vote since 1989.

In his short time in Dail, Leo has become one of Fine Gael’s most prominent spokesmen.  He has published detailed policy papers in a number of areas. These included a paper on the rationalization of state agencies and quangos (Streamlining Government) much of which has been adopted by the government and a has published a related private members bill to improve Dail scrutiny of ministerial appointments (the Public Appointments Transparency Bill). He has also published a bill seeking to expand the Small Claims Court to businesses, as well as securing a government commitment to reduce the cost of business regulation. In addition, he was the first to propose a PRSI holiday for employers taking on additional staff.

Leo has led a campaign against waste and mismanagement in FAS, the national training agency and has been at forefront of Fine Gael’s efforts to rescue the Irish economy from years of reckless spending by Fianna Fail and to rebuild Ireland’s lost competitiveness.He was born and brought up in the Blanchardstown/Castleknock area. Leo studied medicine in Trinity College earning a BA, BAO, BCh and MB in 2003. He was elected to full membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners in 2010.

Prior to his election to the Dail, he was a member of Fingal County Council from October 2003 receiving the highest ever vote in Ireland in the Local Elections of 2004 after which he was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach (Deputy Mayor) of the county.

He has been involved with Fine Gael for more than 10 years, during which time he has served as Vice-President of the Youth of the European Peoples Party (YEPP- the youth wing of the EPP the largest grouping in the European Parliament), Chairperson of Trinity Young Fine Gael, Constituency Organiser and Chairperson of Dublin West Fine Gael, and a member of the Young Fine Gael National Executive.

Locally, his political priorities include proper planning and the protection of the greenbelt, improved public transport and the development of Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown as a regional center .