Simon Harris apologises for failing to engage with Cork carer on disability services
By Was Worker Taoiseach Care Of Simon Man' Nice Disability 'not Accused A Being Harris
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said there is "no excuse" for his failure to engage with a woman in a Cork supermarket when she challenged him about disability services
In a clip, which was widely shared on social media on Friday, Charlotte Fallon, who works with St Joseph’s Foundation, identifies herself as a carer and challenges Mr Harris on his government's record. In the clip, Ms Fallon tells Simon Harris that the disability sector has "been ignored" and accuses the Taoiseach of "not being a nice man".
The Taoiseach had been canvassing in a supermarket in Kanturk at the time the time and a visibly emotional Ms Fallon tells him: “We’ve fought for our money … but we are ignored", to which Mr Harris responded: “No, no, not at all.”
She then adds “You have done nothing for us. Our people are suffering. I’m very passionate about my job.”
Mr Harris tells her that he too is very passionate about disability, to which Ms Fallon responds: “But there’s no mention in the Budget whatsoever. You ignored them. You ignored the carers."
Mr Harris responds saying “that’s not true”, before shaking her hand and walking away. Ms Fallon says “Keep shaking hands and pretend you’re a good man”.
As the taoiseach returns for a moment, she says to him: “You’re not a good man" before he leaves again.
In an Instagram post this morning, Mr Harris says that he regrets not engaging fully.
“I was in Kanturk last night at the end of a very long day and I was talking to a woman who works in a Section 39 disablity organisation and she was raising issues with me,” he said.
“I want to say I didn’t give her the time that I should’ve given her and I feel really bad about that because it’s not who I am.
He added that he “should have taken the time to engage”, but that disability is “an absolute priority issue” for his government. He said that disability issues "make him tick".
“We’ve got to look after people with disabilities. We’ve got to empower them. We’ve got to support carers better and those who work in disability services.”
She was raising issues with me and I want to say I did not give her the time I should have given her.
“I feel really bad about that. It’s not who I am. It’s not what makes me tick. I do hope to be able to have a longer conversation with her because I want you to know I am in the business of listening, of learning, of acting when it comes to disability services.”
Mr Harris said this afternoon that he has now spoken to Ms Fallon on the phone and apologised to her.
While out canvassing at a Christmas market in Rathfarnham in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, Mr Harris said he was annoyed with himself and had called Ms Fallon to apologise.
"I called Charlotte this morning because she was absolutely owed an apology from me," he said.
"We had a very good conversation, a very good conversation. I was very grateful to her for her time and her kindness.
However, Sinn Fein's housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that Mr Harris' reaction "showed the true face of Fine Gael" and showed "a contempt for working people".
He added: "He should apologise not just for insulting that woman but for insulting carers and people (with) disabilities by the utter disrespect that he showed for her.
Earlier on Saturday, Fine Gael ministers Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe defended their party leader.
"I think the Taoiseach himself has been very clear that he wished the encounter had gone differently. It had been the end of a very, very long day," Ms McEntee said.
"What he said very clearly is that he should have given her more time, and should have engaged for longer with her, but this is the reason he got into politics."
Mr Donohoe said: "His commitment to support carers, his commitment to support those who have additional needs within our society is the north star of Simon Harris's political career.
"I have seen his empathy. I've seen his commitment to this issue again and again and again.
"I had seen, particularly since he become Taoiseach, his desire to place those needs at the heart of government and at the heart of how we can change public policy under a new government."
He added: "In the course of an election campaign, in all the interactions that we have with people, of course, we sometimes feel within ourselves 'that could have gone differently' and 'could have gone better'. I think it's particularly the case for somebody who is so committed to looking at how we can support those who need more."
- Additional reporting by PA