Julie Helen: My hopes for our new Taoiseach

Simon Harris is the new Taoiseach of this country - the youngest one yet, following in the footsteps of his colleague Leo Varadkar.

I’m sure Mr Harris is holding his breath in the hope that he will not turn out to be the shortest- serving leader of the Government because a general election looms large. I, for one, hope he gets his chance to really lead.

The cogs of our government processes turn really slowly. Legislative change can take years. The implementation of policies is at best painstaking with all the will in the world.

However, 2020 taught me that our leaders can lead.

Leo led us during the beginning of Covid 19. He did a good job in my view. I was comforted by his public addresses. I trusted that he and Simon as Minister for Health at the time were in the trenches for us.

Politics is not a kind or forgiving business to be in, each leader who tries will be judged harshly. During the pandemic, it was devastating to see disability services crumble and as an advocate in disability rights, I cannot deny that many people with high support needs were left behind at that time.

People needed a service, families needed support, a lot of people who have significant disabilities experienced mental health issues due to not having services. Some of that was while Simon Harris was on watch. 

Even as I say that, I’m not sure how it could have been handled in a better way in a situation which was horrendous for the whole of society.

My hope is that our new Taoiseach will build on the good work he did in further education and training because he helped us make important strides in a short few years.

My heart implores him to hear the years of pleading from disabled people for joined-up thinking, interdepartmental working, and a human rights approach to how disabled people are treated in Ireland.

The Taoiseach can make that happen. The Office of the Taoiseach can act in a coordination role in whatever the office holder deems appropriate or necessary.

I am perhaps unfairly placing the burden of my hope for change on Simon Harris, but I do so because I know he has worked in the disability sector on the ground. He is the sibling of an autistic man. He showed us in recent months that he understands the needs of families and individuals, and now he steps into the most influential position in our state. Now he can be a leader, he can set wheels in motion.

Personal circumstances of our leaders matter, there’s no point in pretending otherwise. 

Leo could put forward the importance of LGBTQI rights because he is a gay man. I was proud to see that and wanted everyone in our community to feel like they belong.

Simon Harris now takes the baton to lead his way. I hope he will act upon all the people living in institutions or nursing homes who could be included in the community. I hope he will use his influence to support every department to adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. I hope he will do that while coordinating a response to the broken housing sector, and abysmal direct provision system, along will all the international worries he has to contend with! I genuinely wish him luck and time to take his shot at the top!