Leo Varadkar's partner Matt Barrett spoke to the Nuacht/TG4 after the Fine Gael leader was elected in Dublin West (watch the video below).

Matt Barrett: "Well I was raised through Irish in the Gaeltacht in northwest Mayo. Both my parents were primary school teachers and we decided that we would speak Irish in the house, so before I went to university my Irish would've been quite good. I don't think I'd be fluent now, but I definitely would've been."

Interviewer: "You're teaching a bit to Leo now are you?"

Matt: "A bit in the house and a bit when we're abroad. When we're talking about other people, it's like our secret language.

"He didn't have too much when we began but when he decided to go for Taoiseach, he thought it was important to be able to speak Irish a bit better and more fluently and he has improved greatly since."

Interviewer: "And how do you feel yourself."

"I'm disappointed for the country. I'm not disappointed for Leo I know he did a great job as TD for Dublin but for the country, the election and the result , on the whole I don't know what will happen. "

Interviewer: "But you are happy he has been elected?"

"We'll be able to sleep a bit better tonight but it's been a very long day - for everyone here. Maybe one drink and then the bed and we'll see what happens tomorrow. "

Interviewer: "Were you expecting it to take 5 counts for him to be elected?"

"It's not as good as I had expected, but it's been a strange election. I think that there's a lot of good politicians who mightn't be able to keep their seats and will be waiting very late into the night to see what will happen."