Former Minister Richard Bruton was hailed a “sex symbol” at the age of 67 – after going topless in a clip to promote staycations.
The Dublin Bay North TD stripped down for a dip in the Irish Sea in the video which sparked a social media storm.
It revealed the Government backbencher’s toned torso as he emerged from the water at Dollymount Strand in a bid to encourage people to holiday at home this year and avail of the new cashback incentives.
Twitter users branded him “Vladimir Bruton” after the clip was posted on the official Fine Gael twitter account.
Independent Senator Lynn Ruane joked: “If I didn’t already have a guilty crush on Richard Bruton, I do now. .”
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Don’t let Richard’s beach bod put you off availing of the Government’s Stay and Spend initiative this autumn!”
The video is part of a push to urge people to holiday at home and claim back tax on money spent in hotels and restaurants.
In the video, Mr Bruton describes the seaside stretch from Howth to Clontarf near his northside home as the “jewel in the crown on the east coast of Ireland”.
He describes it as “a fantastic location if you want to stay at home this year”.
The former Climate Minister is filmed walking on Howth cliffs, cycling on the seafront before diving into the water at Dollymount strand.
“If you need something a bit more high-octane than cycling, why not join me and come in here for a dip in Dollymount?” he says. “Burn off all those extra calories for no cost whatever.”
He then emerges from the waters in shorts showing off an impressive physique.
Mrs Browns Boys’ star tweeted: “He’s in great shape isn’t he? For a man of 67 he’s a great example that you don’t have to be young to be fit and toned. He’s the Mick Jagger of politics.”
Other social media users praised his “ripped beach bod” and described the former enterprise minister as “in great nick.”
One tweet read: ‘Woke up to see Richard Bruton was trending. Because he’s shredded was not even in top 1000 reasons I was expecting. 2020’.
The brother of ex-Taoiseach John Bruton even found himself favourably compared to Normal People hunk Paul Mescal with one poster suggesting “all he needs is Connell’s chain.”
