Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly has said it is now"very clear" that a general election is required after Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris became leader of Fine Gael today.
"The case for a general election is very clear. Leo Varadkar has walked off the pitch as Taoiseach, saying he’s not up to the job," Ms O’Reilly said. Ms O’Reilly added:"This is a Government that has failed on all of the key issues facing workers and families; on housing, on health and with respect to the cost of living. They are out of touch, out of ideas and out of time.
"The Government must put their record to the people, and let the public decide who becomes Taoiseach," she said.Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said that she wished Mr Harris well as Fine Gael leader, but said that Leo Varadkar's decision to leave was"the ultimate vote of no confidence in his own Government" and it took everyone by surprise.