Minister for Health Leo Varadkar is the favourite to replace Enda Kenny as FG leader

Health Minister Leo Varadkar is the clear favourite to succeed Taoiseach Enda Kenny as leader of Fine Gael, according to a Sunday Independent/Millward Brown poll.

More than a quarter of the people surveyed believe Mr Varadkar would be the "most effective successor" to Mr Kenny should he step down as leader of the party.

Mr Varadkar's 28pc lead in the poll is more than double his nearest rival, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, who just 13pc of people believe should lead the party.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who briefly led the party more than a decade ago, polled at 12pc.

The findings give the clearest indication yet that Mr Varadkar is the public's favourite to take the reins if Mr Kenny decides to end his 12-year tenure as leader of the party.

Mr Varadkar's straight-talking approach to divisive issues and polished media performances have given him a clear advantage over party colleagues seen as his competitors for the leadership.

And with Fine Gael now trailing Sinn Fein in the polls, the show of support for Mr Varadkar could spark discussions about Mr Kenny's future at the helm of the party.

The Taoiseach has struggled to control a number of damaging political controversies since the beginning of the year.

The garda scandals, the medical card debacle and the current public anger over the introduction of water charges have caused major headaches for Fine Gael and raised questions about Mr Kenny's leadership abilities.

However, Mr Varadkar has remained popular with the public despite being thrust into the unenviable position of taking charge of the health service.

His predecessor in the department, James Reilly, struggled to control the health budget and was removed from the position in the Taoiseach's Cabinet reshuffle.

How Mr Varadkar manages the health service during the lifetime of this Government will be crucial to his future in the party.

He is popular among colleagues but his outspoken nature has landed him in trouble with the party's leadership on a number of occasions.

Ahead of the recent Budget, Mr Varadkar made public comments about certain proposals being discussed by Cabinet.

Mr Kenny was quick to reprimand his minister for speaking out of turn and Mr Varadkar duly apologised.

"I don't mind being slapped down and scolded. I'm a big boy and I'm willing to take a degree of criticism from time to time," Mr Varadkar said at the time.

The Dublin West TD was the first minister to intervene during the garda whistleblower scandal while still in charge of the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism.

Mr Varadkar described garda sergeant Maurice McCabe's allegations about penalty points as "credible" at a time when the Government faced questions about its lack of action on the issue.

He called both Sgt McCabe and former garda John Wilson "distinguished" after former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan controversially described the whistleblowers' allegations as "disgusting".

Mr Varadkar's comments at a Road Safety Authority conference set in motion a chain of events which lead to both Mr Callinan and former Justice Minister Alan Shatter stepping down.

Sunday Independent