New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss handover of power
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A meeting has taken place between new Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, with discussions on the upcoming transition of power.
A spokesperson for Mr Varadkar confirmed the meeting took place earlier, with the two men meeting for “well over an hour”.
“The Taoiseach briefed the Fine Gael leader on upcoming national and international issues,” the spokesperson said.
It is expected Mr Harris will meet with the other two coalition leaders, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, later this week.
The weekly Cabinet meeting will take place as usual on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Mr Harris was confirmed as Fine Gael leader at a European selection convention in Athlone and is due to be elected as Taoiseach when the Dáil returns on April 9.
He was the sole nominee to succeed Mr Varadkar as Fine Gael leader, with no other candidates coming forward from within the party.
Speaking on Sunday, Mr Harris said he intended for the Government to run full term, saying that he only had a “short window” to implement remaining sections of the programme for government.
“It’s my view and my intention that this Government should run full term. I am very conscious that Government’s take on a rhythm of their own and I’m very conscious that all people need to act in good faith.
“But with a lot of work to do, I don’t think there needs to be any mystique around my intentions.”
However, opposition politicians from across the political spectrum have rallied behind calls for an immediate general election, rather than allow a third taoiseach be elected in the current Dáil.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, reacting to Mr Harris’ speech yesterday, said that he was “taken aback” that the new Fine Gael leader did not mention housing as one of his key priorities.
“I was genuinely taken aback. We’re in the middle of the deepest housing crisis of modern history. Homelessness is at record highs. Rents and house prices continue to rise. Social and affordable home targets are too low and aren’t being met,” Mr Ó Broin said.
“And did Simon Harris say that housing was going to be one of his key priorities as the incoming Taoiseach? No, he did not.”
Mr Ó Broin said that instead of having an election of a Taoiseach in early April, there should be a general election instead.
When asked if Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald would be nominated as Taoiseach on April 9, Mr Ó Broin said that the party had not made a decision on the matter yet.