Fine Gael’s Simon Harris became the youngest person appointed as Taoiseach of Ireland this Tuesday. Image source: President of Ireland, via X.
The Dáil Éireann (Assembly of Ireland) has elected Fine Gael leader Simon Harris as Taoiseach (head of government) on Tuesday 9 April.
Harris was nominated to the position with 88 votes in favour and 69 against.
He was supported by coalition partners in Fianna Fail and the Green party as well as some independents.
The vote follows the resignation of his predecessor Leo Varadkar, who announced his decision to step down as both Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in March.
Varadkar said the decision was for “personal and political reasons”, but has not further elaborated.
Harris was elected unopposed as Fine Gael’s new leader after Varadkar’s resignation.
At age 37, Harris is the youngest person appointed to the role — Varadkar was 38 when he was first elected in 2017.
Harris joined Fine Gael’s youth branch at 16 and in 2011 joined parliament aged 24, earning him the nickname “Baby of the Dáil”.
Throughout his career, he has previously served as health minister in 2016 and higher education minister in 2020.
“Today I accept this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved,” Harris said before parliament.
Varadkar voiced approval of his successor, saying “I know he will rise to the occasion”.
Harris received the seal of office from President Michael D Higgins, formally appointing him as Taoiseach.
President Higgins this afternoon appointed Simon Harris as Taoiseach at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin pic.twitter.com/qCGfZGZC65
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) April 9, 2024
Opposition members have spoken against the reshuffle, repeating calls for a general election.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said, “Let’s be clear: Today is NOT about what’s good for Ireland or good for our people.”
“This is all about what’s good for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.”
McDonald accused the Fine Gael–Fianna Fáil coalition of playing “pass the parcel with the keys to the Taoiseach’s office”.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said, “his elevation today will not deliver the change we need” and joked that Harris’s “new energy” slogan resembled a “Star Wars tagline”.
The next Irish general election must be held by March 2025.
