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WATN?
> Shane Carmichael (97)
> Noel Griffin (98)
> Julianne Hughes-Jennett (99)
> Leo Varadkar (00)
> Chris Lyttle (02)
> Gemma Amran (03)
> Terry McGuinness (03)
> Karen Kennedy (04)
> Andre McClean (04)
   
   
WATN?
08.05.06: Leo Varadkar (2000)
 

Leo Varadkar is a Fine Gael councillor on Fingal County Council, Dublin, representing the Castleknock ward.

He was born and brought up in the Blanchardstown/ Castleknock area, and works as a medical doctor in Blanchardstown Hospital . 

In 2000 he was a member of the Washington-Ireland Program: Class of 2000, where he interned with Rep. Jack Quinn.

Leo has hit the headlines of the Irish national papers since his comments at last weekend's Fine Gael Ard Fheis criticising the M50 and the voicing the woes of the ordinary Dublin commuter.  Staying on message with Fine Gael's 'Honest leadership' slogan, he hit out at the Minister for Transport with the remark, "I won't trust Cullen to wash my car".

National headlines are nothing new for this Dublin man.  He attracted national attention when he received the highest vote in Ireland in the Local Elections of 2004.  He polled nearly 5,000 votes, nearly twice the quota.  The Sunday Tribune hailed his performance as 'stunning' and identified him as a 'real threat' for the upcoming General Election in 2007.

Leo has been selected to stand in Dublin West where he has a tough battle against Fianna Fáil's Junior Minister Brian Lenihan, Labour finance spokesperson Joan Burton and Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins.

With the hopes of Fine Gael riding high, Leo still has his attention firmly on local issues.   He is currently Vice-Chairperson of the County Council, and a member of the Dublin Regional Authority, the Dublin Transport Office, and the Blanchardstown Area Partnership. 

Leo's priorities as a councillor include proper planning and balanced development; upgrading public transport; and the opening of the new hospital wing in Blanchardstown Hospital.

 

 
 
 
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