The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced he plans to give the country weekly video messages.

On the Fine Gael Facebook page, Mr Varadkar said: "Traditionally these have been done in written form, but I'm going to do them as video from now on - once a week - letting you know about the work I'm doing as Taoiseach and the important work that the Government is doing on your behalf."

His predecessor Enda Kenny had e-mailed out weekly updates to Fine Gael members.

In his first video, Mr Varadkar referenced the Stormont stalemate, the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Cabinet meetings of the week.

"We also decided to publish a new 10-year national cancer strategy - which again is very important.

"We've made a lot of progress in cancer in recent years.

"Most people now survive cancer, in the past they didn't - but cancer is going to increase in the years ahead as our population ages and our population grows and we need to be ready to respond to that".

He also referenced the Summer Economic Statement, which Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will deliver to the Dáil next week.

Signing off, Mr Varadkar said the latest jobless figures shows "the turnaround in our economy in recent years".