by PAUL WALDIE

As leaders around the world grapple with how to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, few have managed to revive their careers better than Ireland’s Leo Varadkar.

Two months ago, Mr. Varadkar looked like a spent force. His party, Fine Gael, had finished third in the national election, and Mr. Varadkar was on his way out as Taoiseach, or Prime Minister. He remained in a caretaker role while the other parties began coalition talks but seemed destined for years in opposition. Then the pandemic took hold in early March and everything changed.

Suddenly Mr. Varadkar looked decisive and empathetic, traits many voters had long felt he sorely lacked. He quickly closed down much of the country and gave an impassioned speech on St. Patrick’s Day that even his toughest critics cheered. "In years to come, let them say of us, when things were at their worst, we were at our best,” Mr. Varadkar implored. He has also won rave reviews for drawing on his background as a medical doctor to help explain the government’s actions and for working one day a week in the health service tending to patients.

The results so far have been impressive. Ireland has suffered less than half the number of COVID-19 deaths per capita than neighbouring Britain and has conducted twice as many tests. Meanwhile, Fine Gael has soared to first place in a recent opinion poll and there’s talk Mr. Varadkar could have a senior role in a new coalition government and even remain as Prime Minister for a couple of years. Read more via Globe and Mail

Varadkar returns to practising medicine to help during crisis'

by Naomi O’Leary

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejoined the medical register and is to work a session a week to help out in the Coronavirus crisis, The Irish Times understands. Mr Varadkar studied medicine and worked as a doctor for seven years before leaving the profession for politics. He was removed from the medical register in 2013.

However, he rejoined the medical register in March as the coronavirus pandemic began to hit Ireland, and is set to work within the Health Service Executive on a weekly basis, in an area suited to his qualifications. Read more via Irish Times