We need an immediate general election to give the people their say who becomes the next Taoiseach, Paul Murphy has said after the resignation of Leo Varadkar.
The People Before Profit TD was speaking after Mr Varadkar dramatically announced his resignation this afternoon.
In an emotional statement delivered this afternoon outside Government Buildings, Mr Varadkar said his reasons for leaving were "both personal and political".
He said he believed a new leader would be “better placed than me" to gain seats for Fine Gael in the next election.
"After seven years in office, I don't feel I'm the best person for that job anymore," Mr Varadkar said.
Leo Varadkar to stand down
A new party leader is to be chosen in advance of the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on April 16th.
In the hours after the speech, the Social Democrats, Labour, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit have all called for a general election.
The people, not Fine Gael, should decide who leads the country.
It’s time for a General Election now.— Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) March 20, 2024
On Lunchtime Live, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said it is essential that more than just Fine Gael members have their say on who leads the country.
"The main thing for us is that the next Taoiseach should not be decided by the Fine Gael party, dominated by the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and the Fine Gael members," he said.
"The people should have the right to decide... A general election should still be triggered.
"I think it's very important that people raise their voices to say, 'We have a right to decide who is Taoiseach of this country'.
"The membership of Fine Gael is a very, very tiny percentage of this country... and the people as a whole should have the right to decide.
"We really do need to have a general election now where people can decide".
Leo Varadkar announces his resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader at Government Buildings, 20-3-24. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ieDeputy Murphy said Mr Varadkar's resignation was as much of a bombshell on the opposition benches as it was everywhere else.
"This was not expected, was not rumoured - so it certainly is a surprise no question about it," he said.
"We are awaiting the High Court judgement in the case I have taken in relation to SIPO not investigating Leo Varadkar, we're expecting that decision in the next week or so.
"Now the person who it's about is effectively no longer Taoiseach and is in a caretaker role for the next number of weeks, so that certainly changes things.
"So, yes it's a surprise.
"I guess we'll see over the next weeks if there's anything behind it that is not being said so far, or whether it is as he said that he's kind of had enough of it," he added.
SIPO (Standards In Public Office Commission) is investigating a complaint Mr Murphy made in relation to Mr Varadkar's sharing of a draft GP contract.
Tánaiste Micheal Martin has dismissed the idea of calling a general election, saying his party is going to fulfil its mandate.
Main image: People Before Profit Paul Murphy outside Leinster House in January 2022. Image: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
Read more: Leo Varadkar resignation - Martin rules out early election
