DUBLIN — Leo Varadkar has officially resigned as taoiseach (Irish prime minister).

Varadkar met with President Michael D Higgins at his official residence in Dublin on Monday evening and tendered his resignation.

The president's wife, Sabina Higgins, was also in attendance at Áras an Uachtaráin.

In March, the former Fine Gael leader made the shock announcement that he would stand down as the head of government.

He said he felt he was no longer the right person for the job and cited "personal and political" reasons for the decision.

Varadkar became Ireland's youngest taoiseach at the age of 38 in 2017.

He had led the three-party coalition government in Dublin, along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Earlier on Monday, he visited Northern Ireland for a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council as his final engagement.

New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, whose leadership bid was uncontested, is set to be voted in as taoiseach by TDs (members of parliament) on Tuesday.

Harris will then travel to meet President Higgins where he will be formally installed.

He is expected to reshuffle the Fine Gael side of the Cabinet later on Tuesday. Every Irish opposition party has called for a general election. — BBC