Leo Varadkar makes front cover of Time magazine

'An island at the center (sic) of the World'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Photo: Gerry Mooney

Jason Kennedy

Leo Varadkar has become the fourth Taoiseach to make the front page of Time magazine.

A portrait photo of the Fine Gael leader graces the European edition cover along with the headline "An island at the center of the World".

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Inside the magazine, Varadkar speaks at length the journalist Jennifer Duggan about the threat Brexit poses to Ireland and how he plans to deal with US President Donald Trump.

In the Q&A style piece, which can be read here, Varadkar adds that he is not sure whether to hold the anticipated abortion referendum in the first or second half of 2018.

"What we need to define over the next couple of months is exactly what question is asked," he said.

"We have a lot of experience with referendums in Ireland and I think before you ask people the question in a referendum you need to be able to be very clear about what the question they are being asked is."

He also stated that he is "very much opposed" to a united Ireland referendum, as he feels it would be defeated.

Previous Taoiseach Enda Kenny also appeared on the iconic magazine's front page in October 2012 with the headline "The Celtic Comeback".

Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the cover of ‘Time’ magazine

Fianna Fail's Sean Lemass was put on the cover of Time Magazine in July 1963 behind an illustration of factory buildings to symbolise the new industrial development in Ireland. The cover also featured an Irish leprechaun.

Eamon deValera appeared on the front page in March 1940.

Sean Lemass cover, July 1963

Time Magazine has a circulation of around 3m in the USA and has been described as the most influential mainstream magazine for political coverage in the country.