'We need a new Government': Mixed reaction in Cork after Harris appointed Taoiseach
Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tanáiste Micheal Martin and Eamon Ryan, leader of the Green Party inside the Dáil Chamber, Leinster House after the nomination of Taoiseach and Government Cabinet.
There is speculation that Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke could be in line for a position.
The appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach was confirmed during a ceremony with President Michael D Higgins yesterday after the Dáil backed his nomination to the position by 88 votes to 69.
Fianna Fáil leader and Tánaiste Micheal Martin spoke in support of Mr Harris’s nomination, as did Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.
“It’s a special day for you and I look forward to a constructive and effective co-operation in the time ahead,” Mr Martin told Mr Harris.
Government TDs rose to applaud as the outcome of the vote was announced.
However, there was a mixed reaction to the news with Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire saying: “A third Taoiseach in four years is not what this country needs.”
The father of two has become Ireland’s 15th Taoiseach after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.
The Wicklow TD’s wife Caoimhe, and young children Saoirse and Cillian, were in the public gallery of the Dáil for proceedings, as were his parents Mary and Bart, brother Adam, sister Gemma, and grandmother Ann.
Mr Harris has assumed the lead of the Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Green Party coalition Government with less than a year before a general election must be called.
Addressing the Dáil before the ceremony with the President at Áras an Uachtaráin, Mr Harris said he was committed to doing everything he could to honour the trust placed in him.
He said he hoped to lead a “partnership Government” in a spirit of “unity, collaboration and mutual respect”.
He paid warm tribute to Mr Varadkar for his “incredible service”, highlighting his handling of the covid-19 pandemic and the fallout from Brexit.
Mr Harris spoke of his love for his family, describing his wife as his “rock” and promising his children that “being your dad will remain my most important job”.
He accepted his new role in a “spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved”.
“As Taoiseach I want to bring new ideas, a new energy, and I hope a new empathy to public life,” he added.
“But politics is not about the office holder.
“This is not about me — it’s about all of us, all of us working together to serve the people.”
During proceedings in the Dáil, opposition TDs repeatedly called for an immediate general election, as they criticised the nomination of a new taoiseach without first going to the electorate.
Social Democrats leader and Cork South West TD Holly Cairns said that, on a personal note, she wished Simon Harris well, but added that a new Government was also needed.
“We are facing serious challenges as a country, and in order to address them we need new ideas – for that, we need a new government,” she said.
Ms Cairns said “radical change” is needed to tackle crises in housing, healthcare, disability services, childcare, and climate action.
“The change that we need cannot be delivered by a Taoiseach from the same party, with the same programme for government, and the same policies,” she added.
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry referenced the theme music chosen by Simon Harris for his leader’s speech at the Fine Gael ard fheis at the weekend — Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s 1974 song ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’.
“It’s a great song, but I can think of one or two other tunes from that decade that might be more appropriate,” Mr Barry said.
“For example, I can think of The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ from 1971 — it might sum up of the mood of the electorate a little better, and it does have the closing lyric: ‘Meet the new boss, same as the old boss’.”
Speaking to on the appointment of Mr Harris, Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that a third taoiseach in four years is not what this country needs.
“It’s clear that there’s a need for a change in policy, particularly in housing and health, but also in the cost of living,”
Mr Ó Laoghaire added: “Simon Harris is not a new face at the Cabinet table, this is not the change that we needed.
“I wouldn’t be optimistic that he is going to make a significant difference,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Independent Ireland Cork South West TD Michael Collins said that he could not support Mr Harris because he does not see any change of direction in this Government “and the people of Ireland have had it”.
However, many showed their support for Mr Harris, bidding him well wishes.
“It’s a huge challenge and an enormous role,” said Fianna Fáil Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan.
“Every day that you’re in Government it is important to utilise that to do some good and to bring changes to build on the successes of different steers in the past.”
Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke said: “I think he’s got the drive we need.
“He has a lot of experience behind him and he has the full support of the party.”
Questioned on the calls for a general election, Mr Burke said there was a number of Independents that “clearly” supported him.
“The fact that they’ve given their support is an indication that they’re satisfied the Government is doing its best in regard to delivering for the general public,” he said.
Hours after being appointed yesterday, Mr Harris made significant changes to a selection of Cabinet positions held by his party.
Peter Burke was appointed as minister for enterprise, the position vacated by Simon Coveney.
Mr Harris gave his former role of minister for further education to Patrick O’Donovan, in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of minister of state for the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Hildegarde Naughton will take on the role as minister of state for special education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.
She has also retained her position as Government chief whip.
Mr Burke’s promotion left his junior non-Cabinet role of minister of state for European affairs vacant, however Mr Harris announced that it would be filled by Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill — who had been a minister of state with responsibility for financial services.
Further changes to junior minister of state roles will be announced today, with speculation focused on potential roles for Fine Gael TDs Alan Dillon, Neale Richmond, Emer Higgins, and Colm Burke.
Meanwhile, in his final speech before Mr Harris was appointed Taoiseach, the former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it had been a “privilege” to serve as a public representative for 20 years.
“It has been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of my life,” he said.
“But today is the beginning of a new era for my party, a new chapter in my life, and a new phase for this coalition Government.”
In particular, he thanked Simon Coveney, who was his deputy party leader and who left his role as minister for enterprise yesterday.
The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, also paid tribute to Mr Coveney.
“I would like to acknowledge the decision of Deputy Simon Coveney to leave Government after 13 years of service,” he said.
“As a constituency colleague of mine representing another party, both Deputy Coveney and I have invested great effort in battling each other over the years.
“I believe it has always been a fair rivalry, one which has also included a lot of co-operation on issues of importance to the people of Cork who we have had the great privilege of representing in Dáil Éireann.”
Mr Martin said that Mr Coveney had held ministerial responsibility with “honour and distinction”.
He added: “Today I cannot but remember the late Hugh Coveney with whom I worked well and also a constituency colleague.
“I have no doubt that he is looking down with great pride at the service and achievements of his son, Simon.”
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