Harris confirmed as Taoiseach

Simon Harris has been confirmed as Taoiseach after receiving the necessary Dáil majority.

Harris received the backing of 88 TDs, well above the 69 TDs that voted against him.

Harris became the only candidate for the Fine Gael leadership after Leo Varadkar surprisingly resigned in March.

After major candidates such as Dublin Central’s Paschal Donohoe and Cork man Simon Coveney declined to run, Harris emerged as the favourite for the post.

All eyes are now on a potential Cabinet reshuffle, which will be confirmed later today.

At the age of 37, Harris has become the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history.

Harris’ Dáil ascension wasn’t without difficulties; he secured the support of numerous independents but was told by Leas Ceann Comhairle and independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly that he treated people as “collateral damage” during his spell as Minister for Health.

Connolly added that Harris does not have a sense of what a republic “truly means.”

Harris’ spell as Minister for Health coincided with the cervical cancer scandal which erupted in 2018.

His handling of the affair, which stemmed from women being given incorrect test results for cervical cancer, is a black mark on the new Taoiseach’s CV.

Fianna Fáil have received criticism for backing Harris for Taoiseach, with many pointing to Fianna Fáil’s failure to back Haris in a proposed vote of no confidence on his duties as Minister for Health triggering the 2020 general election.

Leader of the opposition and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald remarked “for the third time you rearrange the Cabinet deck chairs, for the third time in four years, you pat each other on the back and tell the people what a great job you’re doing.”

In his first speech as Taoiseach, Harris said a Taoiseach “should work every day to realise the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all our people”.

“Now is an opportune moment to build a new social contract, which renews our promise as a republic.”

Speculation has built surrounding a general election; the next one must be held by next March at the latest, with speculation pointing to Harris calling an early autumn election.

Harris, for his part, has dismissed the speculation, saying he wants to see the Government see out a “full term.”