While the unexpected declaration of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar resigning left people stunned, Simon Harris appears to have been prepared for this event for some time. Now it seems as though he’s a definite contender for the leadership of the Fine Gael party and the potential next taoiseach unless an unforeseen candidate steps onto the political stage prior to the closing of the nominations at 1pm on Monday.
According to party associates, Harris possesses the readiness for the election campaign to lead the party and the government. His approach to leadership has been likened to Varadkar’s campaign seven years ago with an early display of support from TDs, Senators, and party members which gave him an upper hand against Simon Coveney.
Thursday morning saw colleagues and ministers readily supporting Harris. By noon, almost half of the 52 parliamentary party members had pledged their support for the Wicklow TD.
Harris also shares some similarities with the outgoing Taoiseach. One of them is their age; Varadkar was the youngest ever TD to be elected as party leader and Taoiseach at 38, while Harris is only a year younger. He became the youngest member of the Dáil when he was elected in 2011.
Ever since his entry, Harris has been recognized as a promising and highly driven candidate, as well as a formidable opponent of Varadkar. His dynamism is being heralded by his colleagues who express hope that he can lead the party to a resurgence following 13 years in power split across three separate governments and amid concerns of losing seats and a number of retiring TDs.
Well-known for keeping an open door for colleagues, council members, and party members, he is commended for his attentiveness to every TD. “He is perpetually eager and has monumental ambition,” one co-worker revealed.
Another colleague described him as smart, cunning, and highly perceptive, possessing the aptitude required to navigate the upper echelons of politics. They added further that his ability to attentively listen, even when he can’t meet requests, leaves a positive impression. Additionally, his remarkable knowledge of even constituency-level events has been highly appreciated.
Several party insiders have expressed concerns about his capability to fulfill promises. Although he might have been flattered by the praises from his fellow members, the opposition parties have been more outspoken with their criticism. Sinn Féin finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, during the Dáil Leaders’ Questions criticised him as being a Minister who’s poor performance in the Department of Health led to the last general election. Doherty further accused him of making false assurances to children with scoliosis and their families concerning the timing of their treatment.
In February 2019, he had withstood a vote of no confidence initiated by Sinn Féin owing to a string of health service problem. Particular attention was given to the budget overrun of the yet unfinished national children’s hospital. Another vote of no confidence emerged in January 2020 but the decision by the Taoiseach to call for a general election took precedence. Meanwhile, as the new government was taking shape, Harris’ reputation started to regain its lustre, mainly due to commendable communication skills, and the strategic health management during the Covid-19 pandemic.
His handling of the pandemic, however, was not without faults, for which he apologised. This endeared him to a populace weary from stringent regulations and solitude. In April 2020, his apology for erroneously stating that there had been 18 previous coronaviruses before Covid-19, which was named relative to the year of its inception, won him some sympathy. He conceded in reflection, that he can be a bit dim-witted at times.
The government, under his supervision as the Minister of Health, was perceived as lethargic in acknowledging the Covid tragedy unfolding in retirement homes at the peak of the pandemic. These homes accounted for the majority of virus-related deaths. Two facilities profoundly affected, Tara Winthrop in Swords, Co Dublin and Dealgan House in Dundalk, Co Louth, made urgent pleas for assistance from the Minister to mitigate the severe outbreaks.
Supporters within his party acclaim Harris for his wealth of experience. They assert that although “each politician pledges more than they can realise”, Harris possesses the necessary innovative ideas, policies, and strategy. Furthermore, “He pays attention, has excellent memory, is not lazy, and will seize this opportunity with both hands.”
His peer labelled him as a representative for tomorrow’s generation, maintaining daily communication with them predominantly through social media. Impressive follower counts include 234,800 on X, previously known as Twitter; 169,000 on Instagram; and 93,200 on TikTok. He utilised these platforms extensively for his inaugural electoral campaign, leading to his successful election to the Wicklow County Council in 2009, with the highest voting percentage among councillors nationwide.
His journey into politics was fuelled by his advocacy for autism services, which were needed not only by his brother Adam, but also by others in their community. This lead him to co-establish the charity ‘As I Am’, now managed by his brother. His ascent into the national political sphere was enabled by his tenure as a parliamentary assistant to Frances Fitzgerald, then leader of the Seanad, prior to his inauguration in 2011.
His first crucial governmental role was the state’s finance minister, followed by his term as health minister from 2016 to 2020. During his tenure, he advocated for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, revealing later that his wife Caoimhe was expecting during the campaign. They are now parents to two children, Saoirse and Cillian.
Harris took over as justice minister during Helen McEntee’s maternity leave, later assuming the role of the country’s inaugural Minister for Further and Higher Education. Despite the seemingly lower importance of this role, he managed to maintain a respected stance regarding educational issues and his own reputation.