• Talks to form a new government following an inconclusive election in February have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Varadkar said progress was being made.

"I believe it is possible to do that before the end of June and have a new government in place" by July 1, Varadkar told journalists when asked about talks between his Fine Gael party, fellow centre-right party Fianna Fail and the Green Party.

Talks to form a new government following an inconclusive election in February have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Varadkar said progress was being made.