LEO Varadkar, who has just turned 47 and was serving as taoiseach less than two years ago, could easily still be close to the height of his political powers, but has instead ruled out running for public office again, and committed himself in unequivocal terms to campaigning for what he describes as the “great cause of our generation” – Irish unity.

It is an unusual stance for a former Dublin minister from any party, never mind an ex-Fine Gael leader, and, when his wider background is considered, his declaration of intent becomes all the more intriguing.

Varadkar was a mould-breaker in many ways when he was initially appointed as taoiseach in 2017, as then the youngest holder of the post in the history of the state and the first to both come from an ethnic minority group and to be openly gay.

What he did not have was any discernible interest in the north, and he also came from a party which had usually taken a noticeably cautious approach to cross-border issues.

Noel Doran: Is Leo Varadkar paving the way for a new consensus on Irish unity in Dublin?

His autobiography, Speaking My Mind, published last year, set out family links, early political leanings and even musical tastes which did not suggest that he was ever going to become a convinced backer of unification.

The book confirmed that he was a warm admirer........

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