Simon Harris promises no snap election and a ‘diversity of views’ in Cabinet reshuffle

Incoming taoiseach Simon Harris has insisted there will be no snap election under his leadership.

He also said he would bring a diversity of viewpoints to his Cabinet reshuffle. While speculation has focused on geography and gender in his choices, the Fine Gael leader insisted there was no maximum “age cap” on possible senior ministers.

Flanked by all the likely contenders for Cabinet at a press conference in Galway in advance of his first ardfheis as party leader, Mr Harris said he had told the Fianna Fáil and Green Party leaders that “you won’t be turning on the telly to see if the leader of Fine Gael is about to announce an election”.

“I’m very clear in relation to mature, responsible leadership, and that means Government going to its full term.”

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He rejected as unfair a question as to whether he would be dropping Minister for Justice Helen McEntee from Cabinet. “My colleague and friend Minister McEntee is a very important part of the party,” he said.

“I do believe, you know, I believe in trying to bring the diversity of viewpoints into the Cabinet. Lots of people have different talents, different strengths.”

Mr Harris was also pressed about a “sting operation” by Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan in 2021 in an attempt to expose him as leaking from Cabinet.

Asked if that was something that would play against Mr O’Donovan when he was thinking of a reshuffle, Mr Harris said “rumour mills” would “not be a factor in my thinking”.

“My thinking is about putting the best team possible in place, harnessing all of the talents.”

Asked for his comment, Mr O’Donovan said: “I have a very good relationship with the leader and have always had and will always have.”

The Fine Gael leader acknowledged that it was a time of tension in advance of the reshuffle and some would feel a “sense of personal disappointment”.

But he said people were around long enough to know that “some people get an opportunity this time and some people get an opportunity in the future”.

In his ardfheis speech to an expected 2,000 delegates Mr Harris said he would be talking to three types of people – those who vote for Fine Gael, those who once did but not any longer and to those who would never vote for the party.

[ The Irish Times view on a big week for Simon Harris: room for manoeuvre is limited ]

Setting out his policy priorities he will also place a significant focus on law and order, the effect of drug use on communities and call for tougher penalties for antisocial behaviour.

He is also expected to speak about additional supports for families, farming and reduced costs for businesses and to stress Fine Gael’s determination to protect the economy, build more houses and invest in health, education and disabilities, and access to childcare.

The incoming taoiseach will also speak about the Middle East and the crisis in Gaza.

Asked about his proficiency in Irish, he said: “I don’t have very much Irish and I am very honest in relation to that. I am intending to take Irish classes.”

But he stressed that his lack of Irish did not in any way affect his or the Government’s commitment to Irish and more needed to be done to promote the language.

He also insisted that he wanted a united Ireland “but that’s not where my priority lies right now”. He said it was not about diktats or border polls but about winning hearts and minds.

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