Simon Harris is set to exit the primary entrance of Leinster House around 1pm today, accompanied by a security detail of gardaí and personnel from the Oireachtas. A vast turnout of Fine Gael TDs, Senators and Councillors, in addition to hundreds of advocates from the party and Wicklow are expected to greet him with applause. A State vehicle will be on standby, prepared to transport him 6km to Phoenix Park, where he will be formally blessed with his seal of office by President Michael D Higgins, thus inaugurating him officially as Taoiseach.
Naturally, the Dáil would have already endorsed his nomination prior to this event. The focus in the Oireachtas today is centred exclusively on the Taoiseach’s appointment. TDs are scheduled to assemble in the chamber at 10.30am. Harris’s deputy leader, Heather Humphreys, will propose him, backed by Peter Burke, the TD for Longford-Westmeath. Burke is slated for a likely Cabinet promotion.
Sinn Féin, meanwhile, is expected to put forward Mary Lou McDonald. Their criticisms about Harris requiring a particularly distinct electoral mandate seem dubious, particularly in light of the spectacle they created by promoting McDonald as the “real Taoiseach” in 2020. The choice of Taoiseach is the Constitutional right of the Dáil and, presuming moderate independents lend their support, the majority vote could exceed 20 – more robust backing than many previous administrations have received in recent decades.
Harris will become the 16th individual to occupy the role of Taoiseach since the State’s inception a hundred years ago, and at 37, he will also be the youngest. Harris may set another record as the third person to assume this high office within a single Dáil term, a first. Additional records may also be achieved, albeit less remarkable ones like potentially serving the briefest term as Taoiseach. Past office holders such as John Bruton, Micheál Martin and Enda Kenny all held the position for roughly two-and-a-half years. If Harris fails to win another election as Taoiseach, his term could last anywhere from six to eleven months.
Often referred to as the TikTok Taoiseach, Harris must now adapt to the rapid and fleeting nature of attention spans that are symbolised by the popular social media platform. If he is unable to captivate an audience within the first few moments, he might as well be forgotten, akin to a short-lived TikTok post that is easily scrolled past.
Harris failed to provide substantial depth during his speech at Fine Gael Ard Fheis, despite invoking a host of catch phrases to excite the crowd. Promising a new vigour in his approach, he stated he would ‘hit the ground running’, ‘stand by our values’ and ‘fix housing once and for all’. However, without immediate tangible results, Harris and his advisors are aware of the potential decline their party could face in the impending election season.
Honouring the traditional changeover from a predecessor, Harris succeeds Leo Varadkar, the 15th Taoiseach, who submitted his resignation at an evening event at the Áras previously. As highlighted in our featured report this morning, Varadkar leaves his position with a clear conscience, while Harris ardently intends to invigorate a government that has been in power for a continuous stretch of 13 years.
A new cadre of faces and a promised ebb of energy are anticipated to be brought forth by Harris. A wave of communication strategies and a plethora of pledges will inevitably follow suit. However, we are reminded of Walter Mondale’s age-old (yet applicable) question from his Presidential campaign days in the 80s; “Where’s the beef?”
Despite claims to construct a quarter of a million houses within five years and a shift to core Fine Gael values such as law and order, and support for farming and enterprise, Harris’s Saturday evening speech falls short of providing solid material regarding how these lofty objectives will be achieved.
Adopting a populist stance on climate change might be seen as usurping Sinn Féin’s spotlight. Assuring the farming community, he declared: “You can rely on Fine Gael for action on climate change. We will collaborate with you in this endeavour.” An old countryside saying comes to mind – attempting two opposite actions at once.
This is the fifth Taoiseach this journalist has observed closely. Experience has shown that judging a Taoiseach’s capabilities before they take office is tricky. The position demands untried skills until they’re in office. It’s about the capacity to lead effectively, understanding what actions need to be taken to address the mammoth challenges presented to our nation in these uncertain times. As the esteemed Roman historian Tacitus said of Emperor Galba, he would have been thought a wonderful Emperor, if he had not reigned.
It’s not proposed that this will be Harris’ fate, simply that a comprehensive evaluation of his tenure as Taoiseach will only be feasible come 2025.
Upcoming Leaders
Naturally, as soon as Harris is back from the Áras, an intriguing afternoon ensues in Leinster House, as we ascertain the veracity of the predictions surrounding who’s been favoured.
Today doesn’t follow a set script as all other affairs are put on hold. Pat Leahy provides a sound breakdown of what will unfold in Leinster House.
The minister selection procedure is well established, and Pat describes the afternoon’s proceedings here:
“Ministers are beckoned by his staff to meet with the new Taoiseach in his office, traversing the infamous “bridge of sighs” – a glass overhead walkway connecting Leinster House to Government Buildings. Most Taoisigh express disdain for this part of the role. Cabinet positions are always in deficit.”
Besides Peter Burke, Hildegarde Naughton, Patrick O’Donovan, and Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill are the other names potentially in the running for a stand-alone department and a high-ranking junior role. Only one will be promoted to full minister status; if Naughton is the chosen one, it’s probable that one of the remaining two will be given the position of chief whip.
Once assembled, the latest Cabinet members will be put forth for discussion in the Dáil in relation to their governmental roles. Upon completion of this process, they will then proceed to the Áras to obtain their respective official seals of command. The initial Cabinet meeting will take place on the premises, generally a brief gathering with no major policy decisions on the table.
Moving on to Wednesday, the entirety of the Government is expected to consent to the appointments of the new junior ministers. It is anticipated that two or three novel individuals will surface, with an overwhelming majority of likely predictions favouring Neale Richmond as the forthcoming Minister of State in charge of European Affairs.
Reading and Listening Recommendations:
Fintan O’Toole penned an exceptional article, providing an in-depth study on the narrative of an Israeli author who provided an account of his mandated National Service carried out within a Gaza prison during the 1970s.
You should invest some time perusing Jennifer Bray’s fascinating exploration into Simon Harris’s psyche released on Saturday, if it was overlooked previously.
Hugh Linehan’s most recent episode of Inside Politics, discussing the swift alterations of the last fortnight aired last Friday, is indeed valuable in providing a framework for current affairs.