The Taoiseach will be speaking about actions the Irish Government is taking to maintain a thriving media landscape in Ireland, and warning of the threat to press freedom in many parts of the world in the face of growing autocracy and misinformation. Leo Varadkar TD is the Taoiseach of Ireland. He was elected to the role for the second time in December 2022, having previously served in the role from 2017 to 2020. He served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022. Born in 1979 and raised in the Blanchardstown/Castleknock area of west Dublin, Leo attended St Francis Xavier National School and The King’s Hospital before studying medicine at Trinity College, University of Dublin and qualifying as a General Practitioner. He is Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister. In July 2014 he became minister for health, fulfilling a childhood ambition. The intensely private Varadkar made headlines in January 2015 when during an appearance on Irish national radio (RTÉ) he announced that he was gay. He is Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister.