As expected, Leo Varadkar yesterday emerged as Fine Gael leader and taoiseach-elect.
Globally, his elevation could be regarded as a part of a recent trend towards much younger and charismatic centrist candidates such as Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron.
Domestically, there’s no doubt he represents change. He will be the youngest taoiseach yet, replacing a man almost 30 years his elder. The fact that the 38-year-old Mr Varadkar is gay and the son of an immigrant demonstrates how different the Ireland of today is from even a few years ago.
That will be welcomed by many people, who will see his elevation as evidence of our modernity and open-mindedness.
Of course such symbolism is important, but it is also essential that the new taoiseach also shows that he has substance too. And that means providing real leadership. He has already outlined a number of his policies in his Taking Ireland Forward document and many would be positive for the country if implemented.
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He has promised to achieve full employment, to increase capital spending, deliver new transport infrastructure, reduce marginal rates of income tax, seek public service reform and make Labour Court recommendations binding on employees and unions in essential public and security services. He wants to equalise tax credits and rates for the self-employed, improve their rights to support and help them build a pension pot.
During the hustings for the leadership, Simon Coveney argued passionately for and received praise for his “Just Society” idea of a Fine Gael that looks after all in society, but to suggest that Mr Varadkar has no interest in also doing this would be incorrect. The new leader’s policies also included reducing poverty rates to pre-crisis levels and then lower. He has promised to extend maternity and paternity benefit and to restore free education by increasing allowances, transport payments and setting a cap on voluntary contributions.
All of this would be welcome and more. Ireland needs to continue to move forward in every way. To achieve this, there is nowhere better to start than in the area of climate change.
It is easy to be critical of Donald Trump’s irresponsible decision to pull out of the Paris accord, but far more difficult to face up to our own shortcomings in that area. We have not, of course, withdrawn from the climate change agreement nor would we ever do that, but we can certainly be accused of paying lip service to it and our commitment to meeting our CO2 emissions targets.
It is a difficult issue for any government here because of the importance of agriculture to our economy. It accounts for one eighth of our GDP but almost a third of our greenhouse gas emissions — the highest proportion from agriculture in the EU.
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But it must be faced up to. Aside from being unacceptable from an ethical point of view, it will not wash at EU level and nor does it make economic sense. Things will have to change, from the near-monopoly of the car as a mode of transport to our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to start planning to live in a more sustainable manner.
Unlike the last two taoisigh, Mr Varadkar comes to power with the economy in a relatively strong place, notwithstanding the huge challenge that Brexit brings. That gives him the space and the opportunity to demonstrate a vision for where he wants to bring the country.
He has done so to some extent and should continue to develop and outline similar policies. The real challenge, however, is putting that vision into practice with innovative and imaginative new policies. He has promised much — he will be watched closely to see if he delivers.