A lot of people pointed out the same thing about Leo Varadkar’s first weekly video address

Not exactly Oscar-worthy.

Conor Heneghan

A good idea, although the execution of the first of many Leo Varadkar video messages left a fair bit to be desired.

Leo Varadkar has barely been Taoiseach for a wet week, but already he’s shown a desire to carve out his own niche as leader of the country rather than follow the blueprint of his predecessors.

We can’t remember too many Taoisigh, for example, going for a (much-photographed) jog with a fellow Head of State in the Phoenix Park while on Friday, he delivered his first weekly message via video as opposed to by the more traditional written approach.

Watch the very first weekly video message from An Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael @campaignforleo. pic.twitter.com/gATMEpfqDw

— Fine Gael (@FineGael) July 7, 2017

In this day and age, when social media is so prevalent, it’s a fairly forward-thinking idea, but a lot of people watching the video appeared more concerned with the production values than with the main points of Varadkar’s address.

Certainly, it appeared to be a little dark in the Taoiseach’s office for a July evening and it was hard to concentrate on topics such as the Northern Ireland assembly, the National Cancer Strategy and bin charges with the hum in the background.

As well as some comments about the items on Varadkar’s agenda, the replies to the post on Fine Gael’s Twitter page included plenty of remarks about the quality of the video itself.

We’re sure they’ll be taken on board for next week.

Get an ould mic and don't record in a room that's full of echoes lads. 60 quid in Maplin for a zoom recorder

— The Blindboy Podcast (@bbboatclub) July 7, 2017